Earlier in the school year, I attended a Model United Nations Conference with my class. I learned valuable life skills, met new people and really enjoyed myself, here’s why:
First of all, I represented Iraq, tricky – I know. It was fine for the most part. At this particular Model UN, the size or political importance of your country was swept aside and it seemed more like debating between people rather than countries. Resolutions were picked from the following topics – the Syrian Civil War, the use of Capital Punishment, the Palestine-Israel Conflict and the Future of Nuclear Weapons and Technology. Delegates were given time to get other countries to sign their resolutions, from which 4 were picked. I co-signed a resolution proposed by the Russian Fed. which introduced regulations regarding nuclear weapons and technology.
Resolutions were picked from the following topics – the Syrian Civil War, the use of Capital Punishment, the Palestine-Israel Conflict and the Future of Nuclear Weapons and Technology. Delegates were given time to get other countries to sign their resolutions, from which 4 were picked. I co-signed a resolution proposed by the Russian Fed. which introduced regulations regarding nuclear weapons and technology.
What followed were fiery rounds of debate which radiated good spirits between delegates. Listening to teens my age weigh in on topical and thought-provoking subjects was really riveting.
Being someone who needs words in front of her to speak publicly, I enjoyed the on-your-feet approach to discussing and making points of interest, despite messing up once or twice. It actually supplies you with good life skills you’ll use in the future.
It was interesting to see the evolution of a resolution. How in the beginning, it is a clear model of how the creator delegate wants it to be, then, in the end, to see the heavily revised version, containing amendments made from other delegate countries. While it wasn’t an exact model of an actual United Nations Conference, you could feel the ambition in the air and the cut throat tension when the chairperson called for silence, yet again.
The competent and reliable delegates are what makes a Model UN run well. Nothing can beat the feeling of pure joy amongst delegates in the room when a resolution passes or doesn’t pass. While the majority of delegates were efficient public speakers, there was the occasional Ms.America contestant wannabe – a lot of answering ‘we believe in world peace’ to answer completely unrelated questions.
I was surprised with the unexpected union of Luxembourg and Lebanon demanding land in West Cork, other funny moments occurred, it wasn’t all serious delegating.
I couldn’t recommend getting involved in an event like this enough, you learn a lot. Even if discussing conflicts and controversial subjects aren’t your things, you meet new people and might discover a new hobby.
