Geek Mama

Today we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day created to draw focus to women in technology.  There are plenty of women I could write about since I am blessed to meet inspiring women every day here at the Berkman Center.  But I’m going to be sentimental.  I’m going to write about my mom.  She was working in IT in Silicon Valley before anyone ever had a PC on their desktop.  And it was she who inspired me to pursue a dual career in theater and technology.

My mother, Luz Mary is South American.  In this country, her degrees meant nothing so she worked menial jobs until she married and left the workforce to have children.  But life was difficult on just my father’s salary so when we were old enough to attend public school, she learned to drive and took a key punch class.

While finishing up her data entry tasks, she often found herself alone in the office watching overnight computer processes run.  Every now and again they would break.  And so she taught herself how to fix them by reading manuals and asking questions.  Soon, my mother was earning more than my father as a computer operator at General Electric.  

When I went to college, I had dreams of becoming a musical theatre actor.  Both my brother and I work in show business because thanks to my father we were exposed to every american musical ever filmed.  But my mother urged me to take a computer class as a fallback career.  …I took one class and I was hooked.  

Mom suggested that I try pursuing both my interests.  And because of all she had achieved in her life against the odds, it never occured to me that I couldn’t double major in Computer Science and Theatre if that’s what I wanted to do. When I approached my computer professor about becoming my advisor… oh and by the way, I want to major in theatre as well, he said nothing at first.  But this was Smith College, a women only liberal arts school attempting to build its new computer science program.  ”Why not?” He shrugged.

After graduation, I worked as both an application developer and a professional actor in New York.  Thanks to my consulting career, I could pay for acting classes and headshots.  I never starved for my art.  When I decided to pursue a family of my own, it never occured to me that I’d have to give up either profession or being a good mother to my children.  It’s hard, but I can do it all.  Because my mother did it all.  And she did it without the support, encouragement and mentors that I am lucky enough to enjoy.

Because my mom was a tech mom, I’m a tech mom.  And I still find myself inspired by her and her passions every day.