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Math Department October Spotlight
Izzy Salazar
Background
Izzy Salazar is from Hanover Park, Illinois, about 45 minutes outside of Chicago. She is the first person in her family to attend a four-year university, making her journey to UTC an exciting and meaningful experience for both her and her family. Izzy has one older brother and four younger cousins who are basically like siblings. Moving from Illinois to Tennessee has been a big change, but she has enjoyed experiencing a new place, meeting new people, and beginning her college journey at UTC.
Educational Journey
Izzy is a high school graduate and is currently a freshman at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she is pursuing a degree in Actuarial Science. This is her first year at UTC, and she is still getting used to college life and everything that comes with attending school in a new state. So far, she is enjoying her first year and embracing the experience.
Campus Involvement
Although Izzy is still exploring which clubs and organizations are the right fit for her, there was one organization she joined as soon as she arrived at UTC: Club Softball! Softball has been a huge part of Izzy’s life for years, so continuing to play the sport and be part of a team in college was especially important to her.
Inspiration for Mathematics
Izzy’s high school math teacher of four years, Vito Anzalone, played a major role in inspiring her to pursue mathematics. Although Izzy had always been interested in math, Mr. Anzalone helped turn that interest into a genuine love for the subject. He made his classes something students could look forward to and worked to make mathematics feel less like a subject to dread and more like something to enjoy. Mr. Anzalone also took the time to notice his students’ interests and strengths. When he recognized how much Izzy enjoyed mathematics, he encouraged her to consider continuing with it in college. His encouragement helped Izzy take her interest in mathematics seriously and ultimately influenced the path she chose.
Advice for Students
Izzy may still be at the beginning of her own journey, but she has an important reminder for students pursuing mathematics: “Remember why you chose this major in the first place.” She believes that everyone who chooses mathematics has something that initially sparked their interest and made them willing to take on a challenging subject. When things become difficult, Izzy reminds herself that there was a reason she chose this path. Math can be frustrating sometimes, but remembering what originally made you excited about it can help you keep going. You do not have to understand everything immediately. Sometimes, you simply have to be willing to keep working at it.
Overcoming Challenges
In December of her senior year of high school, Izzy tore her ACL while skiing. The injury cut her final season of softball short, which was especially difficult because softball had been such an important part of her high school experience. Watching her team win without her, lose without her, and continue playing without her required tremendous discipline and heart. Being unable to participate also affected her academically and made school feel different without the after-school activity that had meant so much to her. Eventually, Izzy realized that she could not change what had happened. Instead of focusing on what she could no longer do on the field, she chose to support her teammates in every way she could. She celebrated their successes, supported them through losses, and found ways to remain part of the team even when she could not physically play. The experience taught Izzy about resilience, perspective, and finding a different way to contribute when life does not go according to plan.
Honors and Accomplishments
Izzy is most proud of being the first person in her immediate family to attend a four-year university. Moving from Illinois to Tennessee and beginning college on her own has been a major step, and she is proud of herself for taking the opportunity and stepping outside of her comfort zone. She is also proud to continue pursuing both mathematics and softball in college—two important parts of who she is.
Interests and Hobbies
Izzy is really into puzzles! And she does not mean only the logical puzzles that have a solution. She especially enjoys physical puzzles that require moving a pin, unlocking something, or discovering how to open a secret drawer. She also loves huge jigsaw puzzles—even if it is a 5,000-piece puzzle that ultimately turns out to be a picture of a cat!
Favorites and Relaxation
Izzy’s favorite song is “Jersey Giant” by Evan Honer, and her favorite color is green because she loves nature and being outside. Her favorite movie is Fatherhood, and her favorite season is winter. As someone from Chicago, Izzy is no stranger to freezing temperatures, so she has learned to love winter and all that comes with it. Christmas is her favorite holiday, and there is an extra-special reason is Izzy was born on Christmas Eve! After a busy day or week, Izzy loves going on Pinterest, finding a seasonal dessert that looks delicious, and then trying to bake it. She considers herself a pretty good baker and genuinely enjoys finding new recipes and creating desserts that fit the season. For Izzy, baking is a fun and relaxing way to unwind.
What She Enjoys Most About the Department
What Izzy enjoys most about the Math Department is how supportive the staff and faculty are. She appreciates that even if a student walked into the department saying they hated math and wanted to change their major, the professors would still support them and help them determine what is best for them. Izzy says she has never been around a group of professors who are as involved and willing to help as those at UTC. Their genuine desire to see students succeed makes a significant difference, especially when students are adjusting to college-level mathematics. For Izzy, that support helps make the Math Department feel like a place where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and continue learning without feeling like they have to figure everything out on their own.
Personal Philosophy
“Breathe in, breathe out, and move on.” This quote, from a Jimmy Buffett song Izzy love, is something she thinks about whenever she begins to feel helpless or overwhelmed. To Izzy, it is a reminder not to let things that happened in the past control what we do in the present. Sometimes things happen that we cannot change. The most we can do is learn from them, take a breath, and keep moving forward.
