MILWAUKEE — The commencement speaker at Sunday's graduation ceremony for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will surely be able to deliver an address that resonates with the graduating students. He's been one of them over the past few years, whether they recognized him or not.

"I know the challenges [college students] are facing because not only am I giving the commencement speech, but I will also be walking across that stage receiving my diploma after graduating high school about 20 years ago," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. "When I'd first attended college, I really didn't have a plan for myself."

Crowley, who's set to receive a bachelor’s degree in community engagement and education, said that he hopes his return to college all these years later could help to inspire other non-traditional students to follow in his footsteps.

"Full transparency, I wasn't the best student in high school," Crowley said. "For me to go back, having that thought could have hindered me, but as I began to do the work and as I began to develop relationships with some of my younger peers as well as my teachers, I realized I had the mindset."

Watch the full interview above.