Each year for the past five years the students at Mott Hall Middle School in Harlem have invited former President Bill Clinton to deliver the commencement address.
The 42nd president finally said yes to the class of 2009.
"I'm here because you kept asking me," Clinton said Monday. "And there's a lesson in that."
The former Commander-in-Chief told the students they are living in the most exciting time in history, one filled with many global challenges.
Mott Hall is a public magnet school for gifted and talented students, and Clinton applauded the school's programs to develop critical thinking.
"A lot of world problems are caused by people not thinking," he said.
The students said they were thrilled with their prestigious guest speaker.
"It's an honor," said one young woman as she hugged her mother.
Added another student: "He came here because we're such a good school."
