[Tara Menon is a junior at New Canaan High School.]
In January, I was privileged to attend The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Conference in the Netherlands, along with seven other students from my school and two advisors.
Tara Menon
New Canaan High School is one of the only public high schools in the United States to be invited to this prestigious conference each year. To put this into perspective, there were more than 200 schools from around the world with 4,000-plus participating delegates. To be invited to this conference is a great honor and privilege. I am beyond grateful for the experience as it allowed me to create new friendships and memories.
The THIMUN conference is different from the college conferences which our Model UN team has attended in the United States. A few weeks prior to the THIMUN conference, each participating school was assigned a nation that they would represent throughout the four days of the conference.
Our school was assigned Estonia. I was lucky to have served as the ambassador of my school and represent the delegation of Estonia at the conference. There were multiple committees, similar to the United Nations. Every school was given a certain number of committees that they could choose from. Each student from our school was in a different committee focusing on either human rights, legal matters or environmental concerns.
At the THIMUN conference, we were allowed to pre-write resolutions ahead of time, unlike the college conferences in the United States. During the debates, I found myself surrounded by strong public speakers who had an appreciation for Model UN, just as I did. Throughout the four days, I engaged in debates relating to the issues of Estonia. Since each delegate in the committee was assigned a different country, there were many diverse ideas and resolutions. After hearing the experiences of my friends who had attended the conference in previous years, I couldn’t wait to create my own. My experience throughout the trip is definitely one that I will cherish for years to come.
From a social perspective, the conference allowed me to create new friendships that will last a lifetime and I am glad that I can stay in touch with the people that I met. One of my favorite memories was the canal cruise that we did on the last day of our trip. The streets of Amsterdam were breathtaking and being able to admire them from the water was a unique experience. Our tour guide provided us with invaluable information about the city’s history and architecture. The gentle sound of the water colliding with the boat made it a rather tranquil and calming experience. From walking through the streets of the Netherlands, to engaging in debates at THIMUN, and to enjoying team dinners, the trip was nothing short of fun. Being able to learn about the history of the Netherlands is an experience that taught me the importance of other cultures.
When I first joined the Model United Nations club in 6th grade, I never imagined that it would grow to be such an important part of my life. Over the years, I have learned the ways in which the club is run and the procedures that are followed when participating in debate. After being a member of the Model UN club for 6 years, I have become a more confident public speaker and enjoy interacting with new people.
To those who are interested in joining Model UN in middle school or high school, you will definitely enjoy your time spent in the club. Model UN simulates mock sessions of international diplomacy. The simulations involve various committees (for example, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Human Rights Council). Participants are assigned to a committee in which they will engage in debates and negotiations, mirroring the work done by the UN.
Model UN allows you to improve your public speaking and problem solving skills, interact with new people, enrich your knowledge of global affairs, and understand the role of the UN in facilitating peaceful negotiations. The NCHS Model UN club participates in two scrimmages a year, one of which is hosted at our high school while the other is at Greenwich High School. The scrimmages allow students to get a better understanding of how college conferences work and allow them to strengthen their debate skills before signing up for a college conference. The scrimmages are very low stakes because you are not competing for an award and they are a great way to participate in the club if you are a new member or even a returning delegate. Throughout the year we normally attend four college conferences, where students have the opportunity to compete for awards.
We are always looking for new members to join the Model UN club. If you are interested in the club or just want to see if it is for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Model UN email (mun@ncps-k12.org).