Luz Rivas
California's 39th State Assembly District
Los Angeles, CA USA
"Sometimes it feels like you don’t belong and you should try something else. We all go through that doubt and discouragement, but we do belong. We are supposed to be there."
Career Roadmap
Luz's work combines: Politics, Government, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
STEM fields are primarily male-dominated. A lot of girls and women are made to believe that they don't belong there. This is exactly why I started a nonprofit to introduce girls to STEM and help them build confidence in those subjects.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduate Degree
Educational/Instructional Technology
Harvard University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I was raised by my single mother in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, which is mainly made up of immigrants from Latin America—my family is from Mexico.
2.
I developed an interest in computer science in fifth grade and then gravitated toward anything that involved technology throughout the rest of my school years.
3.
I was encouraged by a teacher to apply to MIT—I got accepted with a full-ride scholarship and earned my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
4.
I started my career in Chicago as an engineer and then transitioned into education because I became passionate about teaching STEM subjects to children.
5.
I started a nonprofit in my community called DIY Girls, which focused on getting young girls interested in science and engineering.
6.
In conjunction with my nonprofit, I decided I should become more of an advocate for girls in STEM and STEM education in low-income communities, so I started meeting with elected officials in the area.
7.
After all of the networking I did, my name was brought to the table when the State Assembly seat became vacant—and I decided to run to fill it.
8.
I worked really hard and won the campaign—I’m now an Assemblymember for the 39th District in California!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Girls don't belong in STEM.
How I responded:
STEM fields are primarily male-dominated. A lot of girls and women are made to believe that they don't belong there. This is exactly why I started a nonprofit to introduce girls to STEM and help them build confidence in those subjects.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My dad left when I was a baby, so I was raised by a single mom. We couldn't afford much. In high school, I worked two jobs so that I could afford to buy myself things and participate in extracurricular activities.
I struggled with imposter syndrome throughout my time at MIT. Even though I was passing all of my classes, there were many times that I felt like I didn't belong and the school would throw me out and I'd have to start all over somewhere.