SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Before television, Broadway, and the big screen, actor Taye Diggs was a student at Syracuse University. But he always believed he would make it.

"When those feelings of doubt and fear would come in I immediately jumped further and harder," said Diggs.

That was the message he imparted to the audience of local residents and SU students on Sunday. The actor said he loves visiting his Alma Matter.

"I just had a really good time and I spoke to students today and told them to please take the time, take advantage of everything that is available to you here," said Diggs.

Marie Kemp who knew Diggs while he was a student said, "I remember that Taye was a huge practical joker and he likes to hide it, he hid it very well because he could play the straight face."

Diggs was accompanied by long time friend and business partner Andrew Palermo. In 2004 they founded the New York City based Dre. Dance Company. But the duo first met at the High School of the Arts in Rochester.

"He wasn't the heartthrob that we all know now," said Palermo about Diggs. "He had a little less muscle and some thickish glasses and a high-top fade, no, he was always cool."

Some lucky students had a chance to take classes with both Palermo and Diggs. And the really lucky ones got a souvenir to remember the occasion.

Danielle Valeriano, a student at SUNY Oswego traveled down to Syracuse to get a picture with Diggs. "It was awesome. It was very exciting very cool. He seems like he's really smart and he knows himself and obviously he's very successful."

And he said the students can follow a similar path.

"I love working with young people and I always loved it when people came back and worked with me, so you know, any little difference I think helps," said Diggs.