Watching Dilli Khanal pose in his graduation robes with his beaming family, it was hard to believe he spent nearly two decades of his young life as a refugee.
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Dilli, 24, on Friday became the first of the Bhutanese community to graduate with a bachelor of business at Charles Sturt University.
Growing up in a Nepalese refugee camp, Mr Khanal said he never would have believed he’d one day go on to finish university.
“Our future was dark, and we were only getting basic food and clothing,” he said.
“We used to only get 15 kilograms of rice for one fortnight depending on rations.”
The Khanal family came to Australia in 2009 through a humanitarian program after 18 years in the camp.
Dilli graduated from Murray High School in 2011 along with his younger brother Ram, who was dux of the year.
Mr Khanal said they had hit many cultural barriers integrating into Australian lifestyle, but now felt truly at home – and safe.
“In the beginning there were a lot of challenges with getting to know people, but once I went to high school I was able to make friends and things were getting easier,” he said.
“When we first came here, there were only seven Bhutanese families and I found my parents were lonely but now there are around 700.”
Mr Khanal came to Australia with second-to-none English skills, but received an Executive Dean's High Level Achievement Award at his graduation ceremony.
“Now I can easily interact with people face-to-face,” he said.
“They are going to recognise my hard work and dedication through this award.
“I achieved distinctions and high distinctions in all my subjects in 2015.
“They say they are very proud to see my improvement from my first year to now.”
Mr Khanal said he was also praised by his teachers for his work at Lavington East and Hume public schools.
“I was a school learning support officer and my role was assisting English-as-a-second-language students,” he said.
“I was giving my own example to students.”
Mr Khanal said he aspired to be involved in business management and was eager to begin his career on the Border.
“At the moment I’m looking to work in Albury-Wodonga, because I’ve learnt so many things from here,” he said.
“I want to give something back to the community.”
Mr Khanal said he wanted his journey to inspire others to dream big.
“Stick to your dream and never give up,” he said.
“We have to move forward and grab all the opportunities we have.”
