<□□As th□ second encoun□er□d□ew to a clo□e, its impact □eve□b□□at□d with□n □e, □e□ving me □ith a□□□wf□□nd sense□of □larity□and purpose. The□exchan□□ o□ ideas□ emo□ions,□□nd e□peri□□□□s had enriched my□pe□specti□e, br□adened my horizons, and deepened my un□ersta□ding□□f □he w□□ld a□d those ar□und me. The ripp□es of this encoun□□□ would con□inue to re□o□a□□ long after our paths di□□rged, □nflu□ncing□the course of my □ourney in ways both □ubt□e and profo□nd.□/□>