.merit-slider-section {
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 1000px;
  margin: auto;
  padding: 2rem 0;
}
.slideshow-container {
  max-width: 100%;
  position: relative;
  margin: auto;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.mySlides {
  display: none;
  text-align: center;
}
.mySlides img {
  display: block;
  margin: auto;
  max-width: 100%;
  height: auto;
  object-fit: scale-down;
  image-rendering: auto;
  image-rendering: -webkit-optimize-contrast; /* Chrome/Safari */
}
.prev, .next {
  cursor: pointer;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50%;
  transform: translateY(-50%);
  padding: 16px;
  color: white;
  font-weight: bold;
  font-size: 24px;
  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
  border-radius: 50%;
  user-select: none;
  z-index: 2;
}
.prev { left: 10px; }
.next { right: 10px; }
.prev:hover, .next:hover {
  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
}
.text {
  color: #f2f2f2;
  font-size: 14px;
  padding: 8px 12px;
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 100%;
  text-align: center;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
}
.numbertext {
  color: #f2f2f2;
  font-size: 12px;
  padding: 8px;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
}
.fade {
  animation-name: fade;
  animation-duration: 1.5s;
}
@keyframes fade {
  from {opacity: 0.4} to {opacity: 1}
}
.dot-container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  gap: 8px;
  padding: 12px 16px;
}
.dot {
  cursor: pointer;
  height: 12px;
  width: 12px;
  background-color: #bbb;
  border-radius: 50%;
  display: inline-block;
  transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}
.active, .dot:hover {
  background-color: #717171;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
  .dot {
    height: 10px;
    width: 10px;
  }
  .dot-container {
    gap: 6px;
    padding: 8px 12px;
  }
  .prev, .next {
    font-size: 20px;
    padding: 12px;
  }
}