Dwayne Johnson delivers an inspiring commencement speech to the high school class of 2020

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Dwayne Johnson follows up his rebuke of President Trump with a powerful commencement speech to the high school class of 2020

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: | Updated:

Dwayne Johnson delivered an emotional high school commencement address after one high schooler’s touching request ‘knocked [him] off [his] feet.’

The retired wrestler happily addressed Pompano Beach High School in Florida after their senior class president sent him an inspiring invitation along with a $7 ‘downpayment’ – the amount of money the star had in his pocket when he was booted from the Canadian Football League and began his career in the ring.

Student Lorraine Angelakos reached out the performer formerly known as The Rock, 48, after seeing his recent social media speech directed at US President Donald Trump.

To the future: Dwayne Johnson delivered an emotional high school commencement address after one high schooler’s touching request ‘knocked [him] off [his] feet’

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Dwayne recalled his previous video to the POTUS and said: ‘Where are you? I was speaking to leadership. Where is that leader?’

‘Where is our leader who would step up to our country at this time, when our country is on its knees, when our country is completely collapsed?

‘I received a letter that gave me an answer.’

The star then read from the letter he received from the rising senior class president at Pompano Beach High School in Florida.

She wrote: ‘I think of you as an inspiration to our youth, to help remind us that hard work, positivity and perseverance will pay off no matter how hard the road might seem.

Follow the leader: Dwayne recalled an earlier video he directed to President Trump, saying 'Where are you? I was speaking to leadership. Where is that leader?'

Follow the leader: Dwayne recalled an earlier video he directed to President Trump, saying ‘Where are you? I was speaking to leadership. Where is that leader?’

Sentimental: The retired wrestler happily addressed Pompano Beach High School in Florida after their senior class president sent him an inspiring invitation along with a $7 'downpayment' - the amount of money the star had in his pocket when he was booted from the Canadian Football League and began his career in the ring. He's seen in 2000 above

Sentimental: The retired wrestler happily addressed Pompano Beach High School in Florida after their senior class president sent him an inspiring invitation along with a $7 ‘downpayment’ – the amount of money the star had in his pocket when he was booted from the Canadian Football League and began his career in the ring. He’s seen in 2000 above

‘Most commencement speakers and celebrities are sought for after you complete college, but I think the time is now in your senior year when some students won’t have that luxury to attend college.

‘With the help of someone like you, you can inspire them. They deserve it now with you as their inspiration.’

The Jumanji actor admitted he was blown away by the note, and he admitted while he would have given an address for free, the symbolic gesture of $7 ‘sealed the deal’.

He added: ‘Lorraine, I would have done this for free. I would have traveled around the world twice and back just to come and speak to you guys during graduation, had you guys had a normal graduation.. I would’ve been there.

‘But here’s the thing that sealed the deal. “As part of a good faith request, I have enclosed seven bucks as a downpayment for your services.” 

Touched: He was touched by the class president's letter, saying he even would have 'done this for free'

Touched: He was touched by the class president’s letter, saying he even would have ‘done this for free’

Generation of change: He went on to address the inspiring youngsters, telling the class of 2020 'You guys are our empathetic compassionate leaders who are going to lead us, who are going to be the ones responsible that we as adults are having a little challenging time right now answering'

Generation of change: He went on to address the inspiring youngsters, telling the class of 2020 ‘You guys are our empathetic compassionate leaders who are going to lead us, who are going to be the ones responsible that we as adults are having a little challenging time right now answering’

He went on to address the inspiring youngsters, telling the class of 2020: ‘Lorraine, you and your fellow graduates … you guys are our empathetic compassionate leaders who are going to lead us, who are going to be the ones responsible that we as adults are having a little challenging time right now answering. 

‘You guys are the ones who are going to normalize equality. We’re going to build a pathway, that’s my accountability, myself and others we’re going to build that pathway. You guys are going to make sure it happens and that it stays that way forever.’

‘Always put your money where your heart is. Your heart, your mana and your instinct will always be your North Star,’ he went on.

‘We all must become the leaders that we’re looking for. To all the graduates of 2020, congratulations, thank you for being our leaders. We got this.’

Inspirational: 'We all must become the leaders that we’re looking for. To all the graduates of 2020, congratulations, thank you for being our leaders. We got this'

Inspirational: ‘We all must become the leaders that we’re looking for. To all the graduates of 2020, congratulations, thank you for being our leaders. We got this’