Queensbridge MC Nas attended the annual National Keystone Conference for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania this past Sunday (March 14) and talked to an audience of about 900 high school students.

During the conference, where Nas emphasized the importance of education, he admitted that he dropped out of school before earning his high school diploma, but told the teens that it was one of his biggest mistakes. He also announced that he has plans to go back and earn the diploma in the future.

“The reality of it is, you need to keep educating yourself, and I wish I had stayed in school,” he said. “Be your own leader.”

Frank Sanchez, the Vice President of corporate relations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, told Pittsburgh’s Post-Gazette that he was happy to have someone as influential as Nas come to speak with the kids about the importance of education.

“This is an incredible message,” said Sanchez of Nas’ confession. “To have someone who succeeded so much in their life, but there is still a void.”

In related news, Nas will be releasing a collaborative album with Damien Marley entitled Distant Relatives on May 25.