Instead, Daniel found a support network that has followed him through the college admissions process and all the way to New Jersey, where both he and his peer mentor are enrolled at Princeton University. "It was a lucky find," he says of Destiny Ortega (Class of 2012). She's involved in a lot of different Latino organizations on campus, and we have really similar backgrounds." Support like hers has helped Daniel adjust to a hectic first semester and a schedule that forced him to put on hold his gig as a tenor saxophonist in the Princeton Scatter Band. ("I was in the high school marching band, which was too formal and boring," he explains. What they do in a scatter band, instead of marching in formation, is run around like idiots.") Balancing coursework, a work-study tutoring job at Princeton High School, and baking cookies at a late-night café on campus, has kept Daniel busy. However, Daniel's hard work and dedication are paying off. Daniel recently sent us a message excitedly announcing: "I was promoted to manager of the cafe, so next semester I will be the boss!"

Despite some of the unexpected pressures of the undergraduate schedule, Daniel is eager to capitalize on the opportunities in front of him. Currently considering a major in sociology with an international focus, he is also learning Japanese and applying to public aid internships abroad in the hopes of combining his love of travel with his desire to give back to the community. This summer Daniel studied abroad in Japan for two months. He emailed us sharing that "it was one of the most amazing and memorable experiences I have had thus far. The Chuudan(中段) family became like my real family and I plan on keeping in touch with them. I try to call my お母さん(mother) at least once a week, and chat with her often on facebook. In two months, I covered two semesters of the Princeton Japanese curriculum. It was difficult, academically, but I also had time to have fun with newly made friends. I now have friends all across the East Coast of the U.S. and friends in Vietnam, China, and Korea." And that is just the beginning for Daniel as he now plans to apply to a Princeton internship in Japan, in addition to a language program in Korea for the summer 2011. "If I'm extremely lucky," he adds, "I might be able to do both, and visit friends in their home countries." We hope he does!

Currently back in Chicago, Daniel stays connected with Chicago Scholars through its Peer Mentoring Program. "It would be great to offer the same help to a new student-hopefully one that goes to Princeton," he remarks. "It's so much more personal that way."