Approximately
150
people
who
wanted
to
understand
other
cultures
and
help
resolve
conflict
in
our
world
took
a
step
toward
those
goals
when
they
participated
in
the
"Connecting
with
the
World:
People,
Places,
Language,
and
Culture"
conference
through
the
C.D.
Hylton
High
School
Center
for
International
Studies
and
Languages
(CISL).
This
was
the
23rd
year
for
the
conference,
which
brings
students,
parents,
PWCS
faculty,
community
members,
and
others
together
for
a
day
of
fun
and
learning
with
the
aim
of
increasing
global
awareness
and
sharing
international
perspectives.
This
year,
the
conference
was
held
virtually
on
Zoom.Kicking off the morning was keynote speaker, Dr. Mark C. Thaller, managing director of Jebel Associates, a company focused on risk management in Iraq, Liberia, Afghanistan, Uganda, Djibouti, Sudan, and in South Sudan, where Thaller lived and worked for nearly 10 years independently and on behalf of the U.S. Government. Thaller also serves as the senior advisor to the minister of federal affairs for the Republic of South Sudan. He is the parent of two students who attend PWCS schools and serves as a senior advisor for Kyle's Campaigns for Change, an organization that helps Type-1 Diabetics worldwide, and Spread Your Wings, which promotes education and empowers young women in South Sudan. His work has taken him to countries all over the globe.
In his keynote, Thaller targeted some remarks directly to CISL student participants. He urged them to find ways to get out of their comfort zones, interact with those from diverse backgrounds, and immerse themselves in global situations. He suggested that by doing so, their learning curve on international issues would improve exponentially over those who only study cultures from a book or in a classroom. And, by sharing his own youth experience and that of others, he demonstrated that grades are not a predictor of accomplishments.
"It's what you want and it's how you approach doing it," said Thaller, on the importance of what matters in setting and achieving life goals. "Don't get caught up in the barriers, just get outside your comfort zone. Don't be held back by any preordained or pre-established norms. If you're going to do something, do it 110 percent and have fun doing it or don't bother doing it at all."
Following the keynote address, the conference offered four 50-minute break-out sessions about a wide variety of international topics and different countries. Presenters included PWCS educators, students, parents, and program graduates, and in addition to local citizens, some of the session presenters hailed from areas well beyond the Washington metro area, including Roanoke, Virginia, the states of Mississippi and Colorado, and other countries, including Colombia, Germany, and Italy. Session titles ranged from "Why Ghanians Insult Each Other So Much and Why It Works" to "Protecting the U.S. President around the World," and "My Journey as a Bosnian War Refugee," among many others.
The event is coordinated by Betsy Campagna, assistant principal at Hylton High and coordinator for the CISL program, and co-hosted by a committee of current student leaders of the CISL Program.
In a non-pandemic year, the CISL Conference notably treats its guests to onsite food choices from four international restaurants. This year, attendees were encouraged to try a new and different cuisine from any one of the many locally owned restaurants in the area. A few special discount deals were available only to participants the day of the conference and could be used for lunch pick up or later for dinner.