Graduation weekend is fast approaching for a number of universities across the state, as tens of thousands of students prepare for the next step in their young lives.

As Daniel Chavarria walks the campus of Binghamton University, he can’t help but reflect on the path his life has taken him.

Moving to the U.S. from Mexico when he was a sophomore in high school, he couldn't have imagined the position he’d be in today.

"I remember coming here and the first few months, I remember feeling like I was in a different planet. Even though Mexico and the United States are next to each other, it's not much different, really, but it really did feel like I was like I had come to a different planet,” said Chavarria, a Binghamton University student.

What You Need To Know

  • Daniel Chavarria is graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the SUNY system with a degree in business administration

  • Students from immigrant families now make up nearly one-third of all students enrolled at American colleges and universities

  • Moving to the U.S. from Mexico when he was a sophomore in high school, he couldn't have imagined the position he’d be in today

Chavarria quickely picked up the language, and it wouldn’t take long for him to find success academically.

Now, he's graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the SUNY system with a degree in business administration.

His dream, and the dream of his family, is finally coming true.

"My dad had always told us about his dream of bringing our family to the United States. And I was coming to school here, and I just kind of never, I never thought it would actually become true. I thought it would be a cool idea and everything. But I was OK where I was back then,” said Chavarria.

Students from immigrant families now make up nearly one-third of all students enrolled at American colleges and universities. That’s according to a new report by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

Chavarria believes that diversity has helped both him and the university grow.

“When I first came here, I felt kind of alone in that sense where a lot of people kind of just grew up here, and I can really relate to that. So then coming here, meeting all these people from different backgrounds, just really opened my eyes and kind of fueled my passion of working with people,” said Chavarria.

What advice would he give students coming from similar backgrounds?

“Just because you feel like you're different than other people, it doesn't mean that you can't connect with them. Just be yourself. Never be scared of being yourself, and take pride on those differences you have from others. And be open, be open to learning from others. And just to understand that diversity is a beautiful thing," said Chavarria.

Chavarria plans to stay in the Binghamton area, where he’s secured a job within the aerospace industry.

He credits his time at the university for getting him to where is today.