In this week's Alumni Spotlight, we catch up with Class of 2009 graduate, Arielle Fujiwara.

What are you doing now?

I teach 8th grade mathematics in an inclusion classroom in Joliet. I am the grade level team leader and I coach the math and scholastic bowl teams. I'm currently pursuing a graduate degree in Teacher Leadership. My husband - also an LSHS 2009 alum - live with our spectacular kid in another favorite “L” town.

How did Lisle 202 prepare you for this role?

Lisle 202 gave me a place to feel safe and supported during a time of traumatic childhood experiences. Throwing myself into academic teams allowed me to develop an interest in math and learning. My involvement in theater productions and our Thespian society gave me a chance to be a leader. I strive to curate each of these opportunities for my students each day. Being a student of Lisle 202 also introduced me to most of my closest lifelong friendships!

What is your advice for current Lisle Lions?

Like I tell my students when they encounter a learning challenge: just try something. Let go of the resistance and hesitation. Being a young person is the greatest chance to take risks and discover who you are. It gets a lot harder to try new things once you get older!

Who inspired you during your tenure in Lisle 202?

My family and friends remain a source of constant inspiration as well as my interactions with faculty and staff. Learning theater under Aimee Park brought me through many dark times and taught me leadership through expertise and passion.

As is evident by my career choices, mathematics plays a huge role in my life, largely due to my experiences in Ron Jaegle’s class. His teaching style brought a fun and casual approach to a subject often thought of as rigid, and his ability to connect with his students helped make my learning even more profound (despite what he may have written in my senior year yearbook).

What is your favorite memory from being a Lisle Lion?

Putting on the haunted houses at the park district works building behind the high school! Of all the productions we did, that was by far the best! And prom 2009 really did live up to its theme of being “A Night to Remember”!