In the 2024 John Locke Essay Competition, I examined the blurred boundary between psychiatric illness and character flaws through both philosophical and sociological lenses. While writing, I realized how society often punishes vulnerability under the guise of morality. This experience sparked my desire to look deeper—beyond judgments and labels—to understand the mental and systemic mechanisms that drive human behavior. It was not just a piece of writing, but the beginning of a new way of seeing.

At UC San Diego’s summer program, I took two psychology courses—Introduction to Psychology and Cognitive Psychology—to understand the mechanisms behind behavior. We explored developmental, personality, and social factors alongside brain-based processes like memory, perception, learning, and decision-making. I was especially drawn to how psychological models can explain why people act against their best interests or cling to harmful beliefs. These scientific insights grounded my earlier philosophical questioning and showed me how internal and external factors—thought patterns, emotional triggers, mental health, and social reinforcement—shape behavior. Instead of labeling people as “flawed,” I began to ask: What systems or conditions create these outcomes? This academic training sharpened my desire to build more humane policies—ones informed not only by values but by a scientific understanding of the human mind. I started drafting behavioral flowcharts and annotating case studies to map these dynamics in real-world contexts.

I realized that writing gave me voice — but research gave me structure.By connecting philosophy, psychology, and lived realities, I developed a framework for thinking about policy not just as rules, but as responses to the human condition. I started keeping a notebook of "policy through behavior" ideas.