June 10th, 1997
Aaliyah becomes a 4.0 GPA Highschool Graduate from the Detroit Performing Arts High School.
She reflected: "I wanted to keep that 4.0. Being in the industry, you know, I don't want kids to think, 'I can just sing and forget about school.' I think it's very important to have an education, and even more important to have something to fall back on." She considered a future career teaching music, music history or drama if she did not make a living as a recording artist because, as she reasoned, "when you pick a career it has to be something you love".
Seriously, how many other celebs can say they went through what Aaliyah went through, release two double platinum albums at her age, have a hectic demanding schedule, and never drop out once while maintaining a 4.0 GPA? Aaliyah was one of few African American female celebrities of our era to show there is NO EXCUSE and that it CAN BE DONE. She was a representation then that a lot of us need today.
Other artist of Aaliyah's era that graduated high school: Mya, Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes, E-40, Snoop Dogg, and even David Banner.
Huge congrats to EVERYONE who graduated this year! Mad props to you!! Continue making us all proud!
