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During my time in Palermo, Italy, for the International Forum on Peace, Security, and Prosperity, I was able to gain valuable new insight and perspective to a wide range of cultures and viewpoints. The conference itself offered many interesting topics of discussion, ranging from resilience to
emotional intelligence that were discussed in panels and workshops. However, what I found more impactful than the sessions were the relationships we were able to build with international cadets from a myriad of different countries.

An interaction that stood out to me was when we were all trading patches and other regalia. Despite our different nationalities, I made strong connections with two cadets in the British
Navy, and we plan on keeping in touch and hopefully planning a visit on the coming months. It felt so natural to talk with them about their experiences and be able to compare and contrast and gain a deeper understanding of how their system works. I found it very easy to strike up a
conversation with the other cadets despite having no previous interaction because of the
similarities of our backgrounds. Our delegation had brought Rook covers to trade, and it was such a unique experience to see so many international cadets wandering the streets of Palermo in their newly acquired rook hats. It struck me how similar the majority of cadets were to my peers at
Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ. A major similarity was that everyone I talked to was the mindset we all seemed to have. There was a mutual understanding that although choosing the military is not a common decision, we all understand the gravity of the roles we will be entering as, and respect international military force for sharing the same values and viewpoints while recognizing cultural differences and how they impact military decisions. Understanding the mechanics of other militaries plays a very big part in being able to maintain alliances and demonstrating cross cultural understanding.

As I move forward in my military career, I know this forum and the opportunities it gave me to meet and make connections with other cadets will allow me to be a more informed and effective leader in the future along with the deeper understanding and appreciation I fostered for the importance of cohesion and working for peace.