Sayreville Public Schools dedicated its performing arts center to the iconic rocker.
"You are writing the story of your life," said Bon Jovi.
The singer was born in Perth Amboy and then went to high school in Metuchen before he transferred to Sayreville for high school his junior and senior years.
"I missed my senior prom because I was over opening for Southside Johnny at Freehold Raceway," the singer said.
Bon Jovi attended Sayreville High School, where he performed for the first time live on stage in a talent competition and came in second place. He graduated from the school in 1980.
Students got a history lesson with pictures of all he went through to get to where he is -- his first guitar teacher, first band, and a picture with Bruce Springsteen. Lesson one? Fail. He told students that they will fail, but to keep trying.
"Go full throttle in everything, pursue everything but take time to smell the roses. I still have the same record contract 40 years later. It's all beyond my wildest wildest wildest dreams," he said.
Bon Jovi donated a new recording studio to the school after the ceremony.
The school system also plans to induct the singer into the Sayreville War Memorial High School Hall of Fame.
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