50 Cent yesterday (October 12) encouraged high school students from the Connecticut area to learn from  his mistakes at a meeting held in the office of Bridgeport Mayor, John M. Fabrizi.

According to The Connecticut Post, the G-Unit boss opened up about his history and told the students to look past his  lyrics and pay attention to what he has achieved.

“I say in one of my songs I hate cops.  I don't hate cops,” 50 said.  “I am expressing the feelings of a young boy who sees the cops take his brother away, and hates them for it.”

“I don't do drugs,’ he continued.  “That was who I was, but I changed direction. My music reflects the early part of my life.”

50 also said that staying strong during the rough times he endured earlier in life helped him  become the man he is today. 

The Queens rapper lost his mother when he was eight, sold drugs during  his teenage years and was shot in the early stages of his rap career.

“Everybody has pain, whether it is from losing a parent or being in a bad relationship,” 50 said. “ God fits our pain to each person.”

Prior to speaking to the kids, 50 presented a $25,000 check from his G-Unity Foundation to the Hall Neighborhood House, an inner-city nonprofit group for local youths.

After his speech, 50 answered questions from the students and took pictures with them. The students were juniors and seniors from Harding, Central and Bassick high schools.

“[He] was who I expected him to be,” said Central High senior Deneshia Cooper. “He's nice and what he's doing is good for the community. As a young person who has also made mistakes, it's good to see that people can turn their life around.”

Fabrizi declared Friday  “50 Cent Day” and will honor  the G-Unit boss with a key to the city as well as an official proclamation.

50 is in Bridgeport shooting the movie Righteous Kill which also stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The flick centers around the two police officers who attempt to catch a serial killer, while resolving personal issues between each other.

50 will play a drug dealer in the film which will open in theatres in 2008