Meet Sonia Guzman Alvarez!
Meet Sonia Guzmán Álvarez! Sonia is a civil engineering student at San José State University in California.
Her path into engineering began when her brothers encouraged her to join a Space and Engineering Academy in high school. This decision sparked her love for building and problem-solving. Despite struggling with math and facing imposter syndrome, Sonia’s determination never faded. Through civil engineering clubs, she found a supportive community that helped her realize she wasn’t alone in her journey. Now, she’s building not just structures, but confidence in her place within the field.
Quick facts:
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Location: Tracy, California
What inspired her to join this field?
“My short answer is that I really love building things.
My other answer is that I was forced into this field (in a good way). Growing up I was always too scared to disappoint my parents to the point that I relied on my brothers to make important decisions for me. They pointed me into a Space and Engineering Academy that incorporated college level engineering courses to prepare high school students for an engineering pathway. Though I wasn’t good at math or science I truly enjoyed the complexity about engineering as a whole.”
What challenges has she faced, and how has she overcome them?
“Imposter syndrome is still by greatest demise. Going into college my math placement test put me at college algebra, which I was upset since I took Calculus AB in high school. Off the bat I was behind from any standard 4 yr school plan. I took the Calculus CLEP exam 3 times to test out of retaking Calculus 1 yet failed. I was in an ever ending cycle of failing, retaking, & passing for Calc 1-Calc3. I was devastated to say the least, rethinking if I was smart enough to even be in this field.
It may sound cliche but I joined civil clubs. I met people that related and supported me. It was no longer me going solo. It was a community of civil students going together.”
What’s something she is proud of in her career?
“I’m proud of taking initiative in becoming president of the Associated General Contractors student chapter at San Jose State University.”
What does being a Girl in Civil mean to her?
“To me being a Girl in Civil means empowering younger generations showcasing that they are not alone in there journeys into the civil industry.”
What advice does she give to others entering the field or those needing encouragement to stay?
“You are smart enough to be where you are, no matter what people tell you. Look at how far you have come, you got this!”
