As I approached my final of year of undergraduate studies I began to think evermore about the importance of conflict analysis, management, and resolution. I saw that conflict was changing and so was the world. The two are in a symbiotic relationship that simply fascinated me. The more I understood about conflict, its changing role, and the dire need for more effective and peaceful solutions to emerging challenges, the more solidified my desire to study conflict became. Through some good guidance, my desire to study conflict brought me to the International Conflict Analysis MA program at the University of Kent-Brussels.

In recent months I have spent most of my time doing research on the conflict in Colombia. My focus has been specifically on a guerrilla group called the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). Research on this guerrilla group allows me to more deeply explore the various sectors in the field of conflict studies that interest me most. It is my desire to continue doing policy and research on the ELN and conflicts throughout Latin America.

On May 30^th I will be returning to the United States. Shortly thereafter I will head to Colombia to conduct fieldwork for my dissertation. These coming months should be quite exciting as I approach the end of my time as a student. Although things are unclear at this point, I am optimistic about the future and look forward to tackling new challenges. Much of this optimism is owed to the guidance of first-class friends, my caring family, and the encouragement of colleagues. I am thankful daily.

-Patrick