Published on 26 November 2020
When Daniel Dimitrov arrived in Sunderland from Bulgaria four years ago he wondered how he was ever going to fit in.
Having come from the northern Bulgarian town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, the North East of England seemed vast and daunting.
But that hasn’t stopped the Project Management student excelling and this week graduating from the University of Sunderland.
It’s been an exciting four years for the 23-year-old – Daniel also did three years of Automotive Engineering at the University – and he is now looking forward to a bright career.
Daniel said: “I can still remember getting picked up at the airport one September night and being driven to my University accommodation in Sunderland.
“Everything seemed so big compared to where I had come from and I wondered what was going to happen to me.”
Daniel is this week among hundreds of students enjoying a graduation celebration with a difference at the University.
Although the pandemic has prevented in-person ceremonies, a special online event has been running throughout the week for students.
Daniel said: “I picked to come to Sunderland for a number of reasons.
“Most importantly, I was passionate about cars and the University’s Automotive Engineering programme looked brilliant.
“Then I saw how reasonably priced living was in Sunderland compared to many other places, and that was an important factor to me.”
Now Daniel is hoping to make his adopted home permanent and says he would be happy to stay in the North East.
“Because I did a Masters in Project Management, I now feel my job prospects are a lot better and I can perhaps enter a position at a higher level.
“The North East has a rich engineering heritage and I would now like to play my part in contributing to that heritage.”
People can join the University’s online celebrations here.