Billy Joel Finally Graduates High School

1992

Billy Joel graduates! He finally gets his high school diploma from Hicksville High School in Long Island, New York. He didn't graduate with his class in 1967 because of a missed English credit.

Joel, 43, was supposed to graduate 25 years earlier in 1967, but he was busy doing musician stuff (like playing on the "Leader of the Pack" sessions), and missed a crucial English exam when he overslept. Despite coming up a credit short in English, he demonstrates good command of the language, with well-constructed lyrics like: Holding you close is like holding the summer sun I'm warm from the memory of days to come ("This Is The Time" - a popular song at graduations) Unlike the honorary degrees Joel gets from Fairfield University, Berklee College of Music, Hofstra University, Southampton College and Syracuse University, he actually has to work for this one, as Hicksville High makes him send in samples of his work to fulfill the requirements. With his work deemed satisfactory, he puts on a gown and joins the 305 members of the class of '92 at the graduation ceremony where he receives his diploma. Joel speaks at the ceremony: "Well, here I am, Mom. I'm actually going to get my high school diploma, and it's only 25 years after everyone else got theirs. But Mom, don't worry. I can finally pull myself out of this dead-end job I have and start working on a career with a real future." He goes on to offer some advice to his fellow classmates: "Don't rush blindly into some convenient job that you will hate in a few years. Don't make a lot of logical, tidy, sensible plans right away. Why not kick back for a few weeks and give yourselves a long, sweet summer of love?"