<□>As □he □econ□ e□c□unter drew □o a □lose, i□s □□pact r□verberated within me, lea□□ng me with a newfou□d se□se □f clarity an□ purpose. Th□ exc□ange of ideas, emot□o□s, and expe□ien□es had enriched□my □ers□ecti□e, b□oa□e□ed my h□ri□o□s, an□ dee□e□ed my□u□derstanding □f t□e w□rld □nd those □round me. Th□ rippl□s o□□this enco□nter would□□o□tinue□to res□nat□ long after our pat□s □i□e□ged, influencing the cours□ of my □o□rney in □a□s both □ubtl□□and□pr□found.□>□