Fil-Am student leader to graduate magna cum laude from UCLA

Photos from Carmela Navata

Filipino students in the United States continue to make significant strides, not only academically but also as active advocates for various causes. Among them is a 21-year-old Filipina who will be graduating magna cum laude from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Carmela Grace Tropezado Navata, majoring in political science with a minor in public affairs, finished her degree one quarter earlier. But she is more than just an honor student. She has also been actively involved in various student organizations and has championed several causes during her time in college. 

Born to Filipino parents who migrated to the US through an employer-based petition, Navata has dedicated a portion of her college life to student affairs, particularly focusing on Southeast Asian involvements, which, she said, holds “so dear.”

“One of my most fulfilling involvements was my work with the Southeast Asian Campus Learning Education and Retention Project, otherwise known as SEA CLEAR,” Navata exclusively shared with Inquirer.net USA.

For the uninitiated, SEA CLEAR is a UCLA student-initiated and student-run retention project that supports the Southeast Asian community. Established in 1998, the project aims to address the lack of resources and low retention rates among Southeast Asian students, striving for 100 percent retention through academic and student empowerment, as well as holistic development. 

During her two years with SEA CLEAR, Navata provided counseling to help students reflect on their cultural identities and support their academic, professional and personal growth. 

Her decision to join SEA CLEAR, much like the students she was able to teach, stemmed from a desire to learn more about herself and her culture. “It wasn’t until I joined that I learned just how significant my Southeast Asian heritage truly is to me,” she explained.

“Joining SEA CLEAR gave me a space to not only feel seen, but to help others feel heard as well. By being able to relate to and share my experiences with counselees, I’ve been able to show others the representation I wish I had growing up,” the young advocate added.

On balancing her academic and personal pursuits

Balancing academic excellence with extensive extracurricular involvement was demanding, but the Fil-Am student found a strategy that worked – clear communication and asking for help when needed.

“Communicating my capacity and asking for help from my peers was crucial,” Navata shared. “Many of my extracurricular activities were team-based, and I had to unlearn the shame of asking for help. Instead, I learned to be thankful for the community I could rely on.”

Navata also credits her parents – Allan, originally from Pangasinan, and Jeselyn from Zamboanga – for her success. “My parents always pushed me to challenge myself, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Appreciating learning for its own sake helped me push through when school was challenging,” she said.

Among the key experiences that shaped her college years was her involvement with SEA CLEAR, mentioned above, and her role as chair of the Southeast Asian Admit Weekend which is a three-day, two-night program designed to help newly admitted SEA students build a community and learn about academic, professional and social opportunities at UCLA.

“We hope to inspire future generations of Southeast Asian students to become empowered, learn about the rich history and culture relevant to their identity, be aware of the resources available to them at UCLA, and find a safe and supportive community,” Navata further explained.

Looking ahead, Navata plans to attend law school, aiming to bring the experiences and skills she gained at UCLA into her future studies and career. As she transitions to the next phase of her life, she remains committed to advocating for and empowering the Southeast Asian community, particularly Filipinos.