I would like to study in criminology/criminal justice. I have been set on going into this since I was a freshman. throughout the years, I liked watching crime based shows such as Criminal Minds, NCIS, CSI, and Law & Order: SVU. I was always intrigued in what they did even if it was all fiction, it still portrayed investigation of crime scenes and capturing a criminal. I would like to be able to investigate crime scenes and see the deeper meaning of things that may seem irrelevant to others. I also want to be able to use skills to capture those that cause these crimes and receive the consequences for their actions. Finally, I want to be able to help the city or county I work in to decrease the criminals and crimes as we can.

My name is Arly Canizales, I am 17 years old and I go to Pacific High School. I was born in Pomona and raised in Rialto until I moved to San Bernardino, California. I live with my parents and have two younger siblings, which makes me a first generation student. My dad works at a Bridgestone warehouse in Ontario, while my mom is a self-employed Daycare Provider. I became who I am today because of events that happened throughout my life. From a very young age, I experienced moving around various times which caused me to move to three different cities and two different districts throughout middle school and high school. I had to adjust myself to make a new set of friends and feel a belonging to each place which was very hard for me because I have never been social. I had been bullied many times throughout elementary school and middle school. Once I got into high school, it changed my life for the better. Three years ago, my original plan for high school was to go to my classes, pass with amazing grades, and graduate, but it didn’t end up that way. Since I was new to the district, I knew no one the first day of school. I was quickly able to get comfortable, but still felt incomplete. It was not until my second semester of my freshman year, when I was asked to be a speaker at a local elementary school about the career pathway, Biomedical Sciences which I am a part of, that I began to feel that sense of completeness. This opportunity changed my perspective of what I thought my high school experience would be because I never thought I could be doing something that brought me so much anxiety and still does. During my presentation at this elementary school, I was overcome with a tidal wave of anxiety, but I was so happy that I got to be a part of that. Since that day, I was able to be a speaker at two more local elementary schools and even at a convention hosted by my school district. Each of these experiences boosted my confidence even more over the years. These opportunities helped me be a part of many more events and organizations. My sophomore year I built up the confidence to try out for volleyball and made the junior varsity team. I only played that year, but it showed me how to work as a team and to have good communication if you want your voice to be heard. My junior year I became a part of my district's student council team. I became a representative for my high school and that allowed me to collaborate with other students who attended different schools. We discussed different ways to improve the district we are in to create a better learning environment, a safe place, and to provide some sort of aid for those who are struggling within our community. This gave me a better outlook of what happens in our district and I really wanted to do more in my community. Now within my senior year, I became Senior Lead of a service organization called Students Stand Together. I am able to work with advisors and students about different service opportunities we can give out to students and organize different movements to help problems that occur within our community. This year due to the pandemic, there is not a lot that can be done; however, we still try to do the most we can. I am still a part of SBCUSD Student Council and also became one for my school’s student council as well. I am ASB Treasurer and I have started to be more involved in volunteering at food pantries and it brings me joy because I get to make a difference in someone's life. This is what makes me feel complete and I am beyond happy on what I have been able to achieve over the course of three years. I never saw myself doing this and breaking out of my shell a bit more. I feel like I was able to find myself and feel that I belong where I am at and I couldn’t be more happier. My future plans after high school is to go to a 4-year university and study criminal justice. I see myself in my wildest dream by being able to make a difference in investigation and law. I plan on shaping the world by changing many lives one step at a time and getting to the point where something needs more justice than it is being given my the government.

In 2019, I traveled with my family to El Salvador. We visited a water park called Apusunga and I did something I never thought I would do: zip-lining. I have always been an introvert person growing up and to do something so bold really drove fear and excitement in me. I went zip-lining in sandals and a few lines hovered above a river, but the feeling was amazing. The sound of the river and the breeze of the wind made the experience so much more exciting. I hope when everything opens up again, I can experience it once more.