This Class of 2020 video was self-recorded at home due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
[Music playing] Meet Chris Alvarez. Advocate. Journalist.
Social media influencer with 330,000 followers
And one of just a handful of people in the world living with a rare form of thanatophoric dysplasia
To say "disabilities" does mean unable.
We just do things differently.
That's all this means.
A life transformed at Adelphi: Christopher's story
MAS LATINOS:  Chris jumped at every opportunity to improve his communication skills.
He interned with Mas Latinos on TV Azteca.
He wrote for Adelphi's award-winning school newspaper, The Delphian
and was the president of the University radio station.
As president of AU PAWS Radio, I have been
able to show the kind of leadership skills
that I never saw in myself before. Chris scripted,
acted in and produced a movie with his mentor, Prof. Terrence Ross.
El Padrino Lives Life Large; I had
a great experience doing this movie, writing
the screenplay, and developing a relationship
that goes far beyond that of student and professor.
I am now permitted to call him a friend, a
mentor and possibly even my second dad.
I love this guy so much. So much.
Terrence Ross Communications Professor:
What's to be said about Christopher Alvarez?
He's incredibly focused and hard-working.
He's smart and determined. He's the coolest
guy I know. He's the most relaxed person with
who he is that I've ever met. Once we were
both taking the train to Nassau Boulevard,
and it was running behind schedule. He got
off as said he was late for class, and then
put his chair into overdrive. And off he went!
In the road, in his small chair, driving next
to cars and huge trucks. The little giant
himself. Christopher Alvarez.
Celebrities
who met Chris and will never forget him:
Jackie Chan , Selena Gomez, Steve Aoki, Will Ferrell, Michael Jordan, Miley Cyrus.
Chris is now earning an MA in journalism at Columbia University. 
The words that I say in my movie with Professor
Ross. And that is you were born an original.
Don t die a copy. Every one of you is beautiful in your own way.
And each of you are bright,
strong and brave individuals.
You have what it takes to go places that you never imagined.
And with the right mentality, these dreams
can become reality.
Christopher Alvarez BA in Journalism and Economics Class of 2020
Adelphi University New York
