Lauren Ruiz-Arenas

"Don't be the one to say no to yourself"

Lauren Ruiz-Arenas is a junior at Virginia Tech, pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science. Originally from Reston, VA, Lauren has maintained a strong academic record with a GPA of 3.80. She appreciates the supportive community and the "work hard, play hard" attitude that makes VT Engineering unique. Lauren has two older siblings—an older sister and an older brother—and a beloved dog named Myla, whom she affectionately calls Mimi.

Lauren's hobbies include going to the gym, reading, and baking. Her favorite cartoon character is Snoopy, whom she admires for his imaginative stories. She enjoys listening to R&B music, particularly artists like The Weeknd, Don Toliver, and Brent Faiyaz. Her favorite film is *Enchanted*, which she loved watching with her sister when she was younger.

Lauren is deeply inspired by her mother, who taught her the importance of perseverance and following her passions. She admires her mother’s strength, positive energy, and the sacrifices she made, hoping to give back to her in the future. From a young age, Lauren knew she wanted to pursue a career in engineering, driven by her love for math and problem-solving. In the future, she dreams of working in software engineering and traveling across Europe.

At Virginia Tech, Lauren is actively involved in various organizations. She is a Clark Scholar, the Social Media Chair for CS Careers, and a member of SHPE, AWC, and SWE. She also served as a Peer Mentor with Galipatia in the past fall. Lauren is passionate about giving back to her community, whether through volunteer work with organizations like Women Giving Back or hosting prospective students for Hypatia's Women's Preview Weekend. She is grateful for the support she has received and is committed to paying it forward. If Lauren could change one thing, it would be to have more hours in the day to balance all her commitments and passions.