One graduate, five questions, go…
Andrea Navedo '98 (Creative & Communicative Arts)
Actress, director, author
How did your education prepare you for what you are doing today?
Some people may be surprised to know that Old Westbury offered theatre as a major, now long removed from the class offerings sadly. I was a theatre major with a concentration in acting and I have been pursuing that career ever since. The theatre program and the great teachers there gave me a wonderful foundation in acting which helped me to be a successful working actress. I will forever be grateful for the teachers, the school and all that I learned, not just in acting but in other classes as well in addition to wonderful college experiences.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
I am most known as the feisty, sexy and funny character, Xiomara, Janes Mother on "Jane the Virgin." (NOTE: "Jane the Virgin" was a critically acclaimed television comedy that ran on The CW from 2014-2019)
However, my most recent accomplishment is as a newly published author. My new book is titled "Our Otherness is Our Strength; Wisdom from the Boogie Down Bronx." It is about how embracing your uniqueness, or what I like to call your otherness, can be your super power -- that what society or what you might deem to be a negative in yourself or your circumstances can be the very thing to help you in life and make you stronger. Through my own personal stories I share lessons learned growing up in the Bronx and how I realized that those challenges groomed me for success.
What programs do you support at SUNY Old Westbury and why?
I support the Office of Alumni Affairs. Old Westbury gave me so much, including giving me a chance to attend college and accepting me when I didn’t have to grades which ultimately led to me finding my career path in acting as a theatre major.
Do you have advice for current students?
Make the most of your education. Study, work hard because you are investing in yourself and in your future. What you get out of SUNY Old Westbury depends on you and what you put into it.
What is your favorite memory and/or spot on campus?
My favorite memory is when I discovered acting for the first time. I wanted to attend college, but I didn’t have the grade point average to get in. Not attending school for a whole year can wreak havoc on your GPA. I was paying the price as I applied to colleges and got rejection after rejection. My outlook was bleak. However, some key teachers in my high school saw my potential, in particular, and saw how I hit the reset button and went from getting "Z’s" on my report card to getting on the honor roll. They decided to reach out to a few colleges and tell them about me and my story. One of those schools was the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
After speaking to Old Westbury about me, I was told to apply. More importantly I was told to write an essay pleading my case. Writing had never been my strong suit. It always seemed a daunting task when I had to write a composition or paper. How to go from a blank page to an actual string of coherent words that actually say something that makes sense? It was intimidating, but I was extremely motivated by the chance at college. It was my dream. So, I sat to down to write that essay and I poured my heart out onto the page. In my essay, I owned up to my mistakes and what I learned from them. I talked about skipping school for a whole year, being distracted with a going nowhere boyfriend to eventually changing my mind and actions for the better. I actually enjoyed writing it. It was emotionally cathartic for me. It felt like a prayer. I put positive forward moving energy onto that page and without knowing it, out into the universe. Then low and behold, the stars aligned in my favor. Based on my essay, I was invited to meet in person to discuss my application!
When we met, the administrator told me he was impressed by my essay and asked, “Did you write it?” I was surprised and slightly offended by the question. It had never occurred to me that someone else could’ve written it for me. I nervously, yet proudly, said, “Yes I wrote it.” He seemed further impressed by meeting me in person, and said, “OK, I will give you a chance and allow you to attend Old Westbury on one condition, that you keep your grades up. If you start failing, you will unfortunately not be allowed to continue school here.” Excited, I promised that I would do my part. I am proud to say that I more than kept my grades up and graduated four years later with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Little did I know as I poured my heart onto that page that it would ultimately lead to discovering my career path. I put pen to paper and that one simple action changed the trajectory of my life.
This story is in my book!
Learn More: Admissions | Alumni Information | SUNY Old Westbury News