Zahir Rahman
In early November, I had the opportunity to travel to US Military Academy at West Point in northern New York to attend the 61st Annual Student Conference on United States Affairs. SCUSA’s theme this year was “Advancing as a Global Community,” and it attracted students from across the country. My table discussed “The Challenges of India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan,” and my policy group included students from all three countries! This added great depth and complexity to our discussion; for instance, when debating possible infrastructure building in Afghanistan, we were able to ask for an “expert” opinion as to how certain policies could be implemented and whether they would be successful. In addition, during the conference I lived with a pair of cadets in the barracks. This was the most rewarding of experience of the conference, as I was able to put faces on the thousands of soldiers from the US Army. During my time at West Point, I learned about the commitment that the cadets have to our nation. Upon returning to Wake Forest, I realized that my dedication to public compliments the cadets chosen decision to dedicate their lives to a life of military service. Clearly, both are necessary in promoting a safe and secure union.