Gennalyn Torres is a reminder that you never truly know the battles someone is fighting. After a car accident during her sophomore year at Cerritos High, she faced unrelenting nerve pain and uncertainty. Diagnosed with post-concussion nerve syndrome, Gennalyn battled depression as she faced her new reality of chronic pain. School became her refuge, a place where she found joy amidst the challenges of recovery. She channeled her resilience into her academic goals, determined to rise above her pain. This May, she graduated as valedictorian and will attend UC Berkeley to pursue a career in medicine.