Over a ten-year period, physics graduation rates at Florida International University (FIU) increased by about 480%. To shed light on this phenomenon we conducted an interview study of upper division physics students to learn about their experiences, successes, and challenges. We interviewed 10 students using a semi-structured interview protocol based on the student engagement and persistence work of Tinto and Nora. We then followed Marton's approach to phenomenography to code and analyze the recorded interviews. Phenomenography is defined as "a research method for mapping the qualitatively different ways in which people experience, conceptualize, perceive, and understand various aspects of, and phenomena in, the world around them" [4]. This pilot analysis describes the engagement and persistence of two physics majors at FIU. Findings suggest that working as a Learning Assistant, integration with a consistent peer group, and social support from fellow students promote physics majors' persistence.