OakMUN- My first MUN

Model United Nations (MUN) is a format of debating where each participant takes on the role of representing a country in a simulation of a UN conference. I was introduced to this after I joined Indus in my 11th grade and it sounded like something I was going to enjoy. OakMUN was my first MUNning experience.

I found out I was going to the OakMUN two days before the event itself. Since it was my first time and I did not know how to go about the research, what to wear or even how to get there. So naturally I panicked. I started worrying about everything at once and hence felt very paranoid. Then I told myself to relax, made a practical plan and went about it. This is a recurring pattern that I observe. I panic, get paranoid then relax. And when I relax everything falls into place. I also realize that once I make up my mind to do something, I persevere and complete it.

When I started the research, I realized that I did not know anything about the topics - Reconstruction of Africa and role of private military companies in war -  or my country’s stand on it (though I was representing India!). This was because of my poor general knowledge and awareness about current affairs. This is certainly an area I can improve in.

In the first session of MUN I did not speak much. But as the sessions progressed I started getting ideas and started to speak. There was a certain instance when an idea of mine was not accepted by anyone, but I persisted and ended up convincing most other delegates. I learned that when I strongly believe in something, I can be very persuasive.

Before the MUN people told me that the research did not matter much, I was required to think on my feet in MUN. But however till I experienced it myself I did not really accept it. It wasn’t that I did not believe them. It was just that for me only experience makes something real and till then it is only an intellectual possibility. This means that though I might intellectually believe something, only experience makes it real.

I made 2 more observations about myself in this MUN. The first was that I really enjoyed crisis management sessions, in which we had to come up with solutions for problems that seemed impossible to solve. I also noticed that when I was alone, (I was the only student from Indus from my committee) I make friends very easily.

Apart from being sensitized to problems in Africa, I was also sensitized to several aspects of myself by participating in this MUN.

Learning outcomes achieved:
1. Increased awareness of my strengths and areas of growth
2. Undertaken new challenges
3. Planned and initiated activities
4. Worked collaboratively with others
5. Developed new skills
6. Engaged with issues of global importance