With her mother working in the news industry, Jadyn Arroyo grew up around discussions of law and criminal reform, which inspired her to pursue a career in this field.
Despite facing stereotypes and hurdles, Jadyn Arroyo is determined to pursue her dream of working as a woman in law enforcement or public service. As a petite woman in this field of study, she has faced discouragement from those who believe that it is not suitable for her. They claim that since it is male-dominated, her efforts will not yield any positive results. When asked about the barriers, she responded, "The most important step is getting past the barrier of doubting yourself and being doubted by others because of it."
Arroyo is a junior currently enrolled in Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) and studying Criminal Justice. Before coming to RCBC, she was already acquainted with the school as her sister had recently attended it. Moreover, it gave her a budget-friendly way to pursue her academic goals.
Arroyo received guidance from Dr. Amber Ciccanti, a former police officer and professor at RCBC, which helped her to pursue her criminal justice studies confidently. "Dr. Ciccanti had hands-on experience in this field and has been helpful by encouraging me to continue my journey," Arroyo states. Along with Dr. Ciccanti's support, Professor Joseph Rizzo from RCBC has been with Arroyo from the start. Having previously worked in the prison system, he educates his students on the functioning of prison procedures.
Currently, she prioritizes her education and takes advantage of the networking opportunities RCBC offers. Moreover, she participates in an internship for a political campaign, which is relevant to policy and allows her to interact with a diverse group of people in the field.
Her most significant advice as the school year approaches is, "You just have to believe in yourself and work hard. You’re not going to get anywhere without putting in the work to create what you want. In the end, it’s really rewarding to see all you’ve done."
