Isabel Arrastia ’09 came to LMU as an undeclared major but says she soon felt drawn to the math department.

“The faculty really cares about students,” she says. “Furthermore, the sense of community among the students is very apparent, with people constantly willing to share with and support one another.

“I also just love studying math!” Arrastia explains. “Most people think math is just about numbers … but it is much more about problem solving and putting together puzzles and proofs from different branches of mathematics that connect in interesting and beautiful ways.”

Arrastia’s passion for math led to several academic honors in her final year, including being named the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering Mathematics and Science Scholar for having the highest GPA in the department; and earning the Jerome J. Korth Science and Engineering Core Award, an honor given to the student with the highest core curriculum GPA in the College of Science and Engineering.

But numbers were not Arrastia’s only focus. During her junior and senior years, she worked as a Rains research assistant for Professor Kristin Heyer, whose research focused on Christian ethics in relation to topics such as immigration, feminist theology and HIV/AIDS.

Arrastia was also part of the Ignatians Service Organization, for which she served as vice-president during her senior year.  She traveled to Tianguistengo, Mexico and Atlanta, Georgia, with the Alternative Breaks program. Off campus, she interned with Balance, a nonprofit organization that works to empower women and youth in Mexico City.

In addition to research and experience with social justice causes, Arrastia minored in Spanish and theology -- a foundation that will be put to good use next fall when she leaves for Santiago, Chile to teach and do social work with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps International.

When she returns from Chile in two years, Arrastia says she may apply to graduate school for social work or continue her career with a nonprofit agency working with female empowerment, AIDS activism or immigration.

Arrastia says she is "grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow at LMU" and has a few words of advice for freshmen: “The best way to be a successful student, in my opinion, is to cultivate curiosity, find joy in learning and discovering new things, and develop passions and interests you love.”