Jahlilah Rivers - WLAC Student Spotlight of the Week

Veteran pursuing IT career

Service is in her blood, explained Army veteran Jahlilah Rivers. Like her father and grandfather, after high school, she joined the service. Her first pick for assignments was disarming bombs, “I’m an adrenaline junkie,” she laughed. But after a stint as a paratrooper she was assigned to communications and technology. After serving, Rivers enrolled at West LA College where she is taking advantage of her veteran’s benefits while pursuing a degree in Computer Science & Information Technology.

“I’ve been hesitant to do school, I always thought I didn’t like it. But when you have a major concentrated in what you like to do, it’s a different feeling and you want to keep going and pursuing it,” said Rivers. From West, she plans to transfer to Cal State Dominguez Hills to complete her Bachelor’s degree.

Rivers likes helping others. At West, she is an IT department tutor. Professionally, she wants to be an IT manager who can “help people progress in their careers,” she said. “Ms. Rivers contributes to the college community as a student worker, assisting her peers in hands-on labs with patience and skill. Her drive, technical acumen, and collaborative spirit make her an exemplary student and a promising future leader in the field of Cybersecurity,” said Prof. Anna Chiang, Computer Science Chair.

She encourages her fellow veterans to tap into their benefits. “I was hesitant to try it,” she said. “I thought it would be a lot of paperwork, but it was simple. I just got in touch with the VA-Certifying Official and they put me in the right direction.”