What’s the first thing you think of when someone says, “Model United Nations”? The real UN, perhaps? The Simpsons? That one Never Have I Ever episode? Regardless of one’s preconceived notions, Model UN is an extracurricular activity that benefits anyone and everyone. Here’s how.
- Public Speaking: What mainly composes Model UN conferences are speeches. Ranging from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, on-the-spot or prepared, how well you speak is indirectly what sets you apart from everyone else. Through MUN, some of the shyest, stuttering students morph into confident speakers that command an entire room with their voice and eloquence.
- World Affairs: MUN teaches you how global issues are solved. It forces you to take into account a holistic view of some of the crises plaguing our world through collaborating with other delegates to craft a detailed and specific resolution down to the minute aspects of your solution. What organization will carry plans out? How will your plan be funded? What will ensure this will carry on over time? These are just some of the questions that need to be taken into account when crafting a resolution, and it’s incredibly exciting to plan them out in this manner.
- Social Skills: Similar in a way to Public Speaking, there are a lot of subtle tips and tricks MUN students pick up over time that allow them to be the ‘biggest delegate in the room’. From sending supportive notes to other delegates to simply having a clipboard in hand when discussing during unmoderated caucuses, there’s a science to attracting delegates towards your leadership, and once these are mastered, not only will it be extremely easy to be established leader of your bloc but in other wordly situations, speaking up for yourself will simply feel second-nature.
- College: There’s a Model UN club in almost every well-established university at the college level. Conferences occur out of the country and college students typically chair or moderate high school tournaments, and through this it is clear to see that MUN is revered at the college level. There’s so much that having Model UN adds to your college application and resume. Responsibility, collaboration, confidence, growth are only some key characteristics that are communicated to admissions officers when they see a Best Delegate award or an Excellent Delegation award on your list of accomplishments.
Don’t feel intimidated, though! Model UN does offer a lot to learn, but no delegate figures it out overnight. If there’s one last skill that MUn offers, it’s perseverance. It’s getting up in front of people and completely freezing. It’s not winning an award for a conference you worked hard on. It’s a learning curve, a process. However, the feeling of Model UN fulfillment is unparalleled.
No matter where in your educational career you are, give Model UN a try. It just might change you for the better.
