A once seemingly unknown and irrelevant spot on the map has become a pivotal and impactful part of the world in my studies and early career. I am incredibly grateful to have received the opportunity to intern at the RSU China Studies Centre in Riga, Latvia, under the guidance of Dr. Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova. At the centre, I had the opportunity to research and write about a topic related to China and the Baltic region, allowing me to learn the sheer geopolitical impact and importance of the Baltic states. I researched and wrote a blog on the RSU webpage about the necessity of NATO’s adaptation to modern economic disruptions, using Lithuania as a primary case study. Additionally, I wrote a think tank-style paper on the same topic, attended local conferences, and joined my fellow interns in interviewing experts within the think tank, academic, and political spaces. I would like to extend my greatest thanks to Kadri for her dedicated work to bring together all the Stanford Baltic interns together, and I plan on continuing my work on NATO’s response to economic disruptions.