I am an 11th-grade student at Leigh High School in San Jose. My passion for combating addiction began in middle school after witnessing a friend overdose at age 12. Motivated to understand addiction science, I self-studied and passed AP Biology in 9th grade, then attended the Rosetta Institute at UCSD and BEAM x GATI at UC Irvine. My research on the genetic, epigenetic, and sociocultural factors in substance use disorders was published in the Journal of Student Research. Under CCIR mentorship, I examined the link between PTSD and AUD and proposed a framework to prevent their reinforcing spiral cycle.