A Model United Nations is an extra-curricular activity organized by Senior students in which the participants typically roleplay delegates of the United Nations and simulate UN committees. Our committee lasted for 2 days i.e 3rd & 4th November 2016.
This year I auditioned to participate in the BMUN. I had to undergo a screening process where we had to speak on a Current Affairs topic. It was tough as we had many good speakers in our school. But I was thrilled when I got selected to represent the People’s Republic of China as a delegate in the General Assembly.
We were first informed about our topics which was
1. Brexit and its aftermath and
2. Nuclear security: The Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Before the main event, our school Bhavans which was hosting MUN, had a training session for all the other school delegates. Here they had an interactive session where they familiarized all of us regarding the working of the committee, how the delegate had to research on the topics given etc. I recall that on the training day, we had gotten a chance to introduce ourselves and familiarize ourselves with all the other delegates. I then realized that a lot of the delegates were new to the Model United nations, just like me. It was nice interacting with so many different students from the various schools in Kuwait.
The first thing we had to do was to prepare our Position Papers which required a lot of in depth research. It took me quite a few days to complete the research and submit the same before the deadline which was a few days before the event.
It was indeed an unforgettable two days’ experience. On the event day, I was very nervous, before the committee was in session I had butterflies in my stomach. The night before I was dreaming of how it was going to be and what I was going to say. It is just before the event that you feel that you are not going to remember anything or say anything, that feeling had bothered me the most. When the committee was in session, my heart was beating very fast. But once I was in session I realized that I was not the only one that was nervous. So, that gave me a little more confidence to speak.
Participating in MUN, I learned how to stand, speak, deal with others, delegate, deliberate, lead, write, read and research properly, and so many other talents I would never have learned without MUN. Before I participated in the Bhavans Model United Nations I was not interested in politics, but now, I am more interested in politics and I believe that there is reason behind for every decision – sometimes we just don’t see it, but the reason is there nevertheless. I feel that after the MUN I have become more confident in myself than I was ever before. I learnt to interact with different people as in the unmoderated caucus I had to discuss the solutions to the problems that my country and other countries had faced. MUN taught us to be diplomats, to feel the weight of humanity in the palm of our hands, and to know that each decision we take have many implications. MUN has made me realize the power that rests in our hands and our ideas and actions can save the world or destroy it. I feel that participating in MUN has been the best experience ever and I am now a new person who has just discovered another facet of myself. No more I am the shy girl I used to be, I feel that I can be the change I wish to see in the world.
In conclusion, I feel that participating in MUN will create future leaders and activists who can bring about a change in this world. We can have inspiring young blood full of talents and ideas. I must thank Bhavans Model United Nations for making me a whole new person that I am today and I look forward to participating next year with a lot of more vigor and zeal.