AceShowbiz -

Film actor Mark Wahlberg has many blockbuster movies tucked under his belt of successes, but his latest achievement may prove to be his most fulfilling yet. At age 42, the "Ted" star completed his high school education by taking online classes a year ago, finishing up on the remaining credits and finally getting his diploma this summer.

In an op-ed he wrote on the Huffington Post, the former high school dropout revealed how he would study any chance he could get, "on the set, traveling for work and at home," describing his recent experience as "both humbling and challenging." The first time he attended high school, he never made it past ninth grade, a fate shared by more than 1.2 million teens each year.

"My circumstances were not unlike millions of other teens today, who live in tough working class neighborhoods surrounded by drugs, violence and crime, and who struggle to stay on the right path without positive influences," Wahlberg recalled the situation he was in earlier in his life, long before he became a big Hollywood celebrity. He sees himself as one of the lucky ones, who become successful despite the odds.

Not many teens are as lucky as the actor/producer, which is why through his own youth foundation, he works with other organizations to provide the resources and support that he did not have access to the time he dropped out of high school. Realizing how difficult it would be especially for adult dropouts to go back in school, he's advocating the same online classes that served as his second chance to finish school and serve as a good example to his kids and to other teens.