In the suburbs of Northern Virginia, Langley High School senior Rujvi Thakkar has taken on a mission close to her heart—fighting the rise of youth vaping. As an older sister, the issue became personal when a middle school boy at one of her presentations asked how to help his sister quit.
Rujvi felt the weight of his question and gently explained that addiction is a mental disorder—change has to come from within.
Determined to make a difference, Rujvi launched ClearLungs, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about vaping's dangers. What started on TikTok soon took off, with over 20,000 followers and viral videos sparking conversations about health risks many teens overlook. Over the summer, she took her message to gyms, clinics, and hundreds of students, even creating a “Share Your Story” campaign that drew in adults trying to quit.
Rujvi’s work is grounded in compassion and urgency. She reminds young people that vaping may look fun, but the damage can last for years. And though she’s still in high school, her impact is already reaching far beyond the classroom—and she has no plans to stop.