Her Story
About Maria
Maria RuizSalgado is a pre-law undergraduate student at the University of Southern California, where she was admitted as a Trustee Scholar on a full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to approximately 2 percent of the incoming freshman class. She is enrolled in a progressive degree program to obtain her master's in public administration through the Price School of Public Policy. RuizSalgado recently secured an internship as a human resources intern with American Realty Advisors. She has been engaged in her pre-law studies for four years and previously attended Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic all-girls high school, as well as St. Columbkill Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles. As a first-generation student from an immigrant family, she participates in multicultural organizations at USC and has completed community service abroad in Greece focused on reforestation efforts. Her experiences have inspired her aspiration to become an immigration lawyer and to work with organizations such as CHIRLA to support immigrant rights and marginalized communities in Los Angeles.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maria
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to take up space. Oftentimes especially when you're first gen and when you feel like the imposter syndrome is really strong, I often have to remind myself that not only did I earn my seat at the table, I basically built my seat for the table. Being reminded that I have to take up space and that it is okay, that sometimes my experiences make me different from other people but there's a lot of strength within my difference because that has allowed me to lead with empathy, with a lot of determination, as well as with a lot of passion. I am worthy and I can take up space and I should take up space.
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