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Yaritza Quintana Hidalgo was born in Central Islip, New York, eventually moving to Orlando when she was 13. She had always had a passion for criminal justice, and her time at Colonial High School helped her shape this  passion into a real, tangible career path.

 

Throughout high school, Yaritza balanced a high GPA with excellent grades in eleven AICE and AP courses. This academic career was coupled with intense FLVS online classes, and even more rigorous dual enrollment courses at Valencia College. Her efforts led her to not only graduate in the top 10% of her class of 800 students, but do so a year early with the Cambridge Diploma with Merit.

 

Outside of school, Yaritza dedicated herself to the Colonial High School Band, as a clarinet in high standing. During her senior year, she was promoted to a Woodwind Captain, which meant she managed a team of likeminded devoted students. She fondly remembers taking care of her brothers every day after class. She also joined the Student Government Association and the National Honors Society, consistently volunteering to assist the school staff and school operations.

 

Currently, Yaritza attends the University of Michigan as a first generation student. She is pursuing a double major in Political Science, and Cognitive Science with a focus on Decision and Cognition. She hopes to eventually enter law school, working towards opening her own law firm as a criminal defense attorney. Yaritza’s dream is to be able to dedicate her efforts towards the community that was always her biggest support.