Graduation Season: Celebrating Academic Achievements and Community Ties

'Graduation: No one gets there alone' — UCLA Professor reflects on academic journey and the community that made it possible.

The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

UCLA Anthropology Professor, who has just returned from the UCLA Anthropology commencement celebration, recently shared their thoughts on the significance of graduation season. The professor, who has spent much of their career conducting research, writing, mentoring students, and attending meetings, highlighted the importance of academic attire and the people behind the achievement.

Academic attire, a tradition with roots in medieval European universities, now incorporates local histories and identities, as seen in the sablay worn by Filipino graduates. The sablay, a distinctive academic gown, draws inspiration from Filipino and Indigenous motifs. Introduced as an alternative to the Western cap and gown, it grounds academic achievement in local histories and identities.

As the professor reflects on their own academic journey, they think about four pieces of academic attire that mark different chapters of their life: the white toga from Tinambac Central School, another from Naga College Foundation, the sablay from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and the doctoral hood placed over their shoulders at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Commencement also brings to life one of academia's oldest traditions. It is a moment where faculty members see more than what unfolds on stage. They remember the drafts, conference presentations, fieldwork challenges, frustrations, and moments when students themselves were not sure they would make it.

This year, the professor is especially proud to celebrate graduates from UCLA Anthropology and the Southeast Asian Archaeology Laboratory (SEAALAB). Rhian Gibble, Maedeline Salazar, and Justin Flores have contributed to research and public engagement. The professor is also delighted to celebrate Joshua David, who receives his MFA in Film Directing. Joshua began as an anthropology student at UCLA and completed research training through the UCLA Lemelson Anthropology Honors Program.

Joshua David's journey is a testament to the power of community and mentorship. As a Filipino American, he used anthropology not only to study the world around him, but also to reconnect with his roots and better understand his place within a larger Filipino story. Watching that process unfold has been one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring Joshua and other students like him.

Community Ties

The sablay worn by Filipino graduates reflects a strong sense of community and cultural identity. It is a symbol of the rich history and traditions that shape the academic journey of students like Joshua David. The sablay also underscores the importance of mentorship and community support in achieving academic success.

As the professor looks back on their own academic journey, they are reminded of the people who helped them along the way. They think about the teachers and mentors who saw possibilities they did not yet see in themselves. They think about the sacrifices and determination behind the loans that made it possible for them to stay in school.

The most rewarding part of the professor's profession is not seeing their name in print or their work cited by others. It is sitting at commencement and watching their students cross the stage as the familiar strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" fill the air. That moment is a reminder of the power of community and the importance of celebrating academic achievements.