Club Spotlight: Model UN

Out of the hundreds of clubs at GHS, Model United Nations (MUN) has become perhaps the  biggest. With about 50-60 regular student participants, GHS Model UN has grown into a dynamic and supportive community, equipping attendees with valuable skills and offering immersive experiences.

MUN is a simulation of the United Nations where students take on the roles of diplomats from different countries, researching issues, debating, and negotiating resolutions to global problems. MUN is a program found in thousands of high schools in the United States, and they gather at various conferences to participate in these simulations both locally and nationally. At conferences, delegates representing different countries discuss and propose solutions to real-world international issues through diplomacy, debate, and consensus-building.

GHS Model UN has participated in various conferences this year, both at high schools and universities. GHS ran its own event in the fall that included other high schools in the area and over one hundred participants, where “students designed and ran all of the committees,” and “often collaborated with leaders from other schools,” according to advisor Ian Tiedemann. 

In addition, members of GHS Model UN attended conferences at Brown University, American University, and the National High School Model UN conference. These conferences often take place during the weekend and can last from two to three nights. Although a traveling event taking up your weekend and sometimes cutting into the school week may seem like a big time commitment, it is manageable and even beneficial. Sophomore Katelyn Bae says she navigates the busy Model UN weekends with a tight ballet schedule and AP classes using two strategies. Firstly, she emails teachers to get work done prior to the conference. Secondly, she works efficiently and quickly, not only to complete school work but the research necessary for the conference.

Model UN provides a safe space to learn and develop skills that can be used not just at conferences, but in college and beyond. MUN conferences provide benefits all around, starting from even before the bus ride. By preparing for a conference, students gain skills such as research, debate, public speaking, networking, and editing/revising, due to the research needed for the delegate to be educated about their assigned country and current events. They are also provided with the experiences of traveling to various cities and seeing college campuses. In conferences, it is crucial to be considerate, as committee sessions can be large and a participant can find themselves trying to discuss a resolution with over 50 other delegates. Aitana Rodriguez, a sophomore who attended all the college conferences this year, emphasizes the utility of being extroverted and considerate to stand out. It is fundamental to learn to work with others to find solutions and share ideas, especially when trying to “be a leader without imposing too much,” as Rodriguez expresses. She goes on to say that “the good thing about Model UN is that you force yourself to talk to everyone, think out of the box, and be out there.” Bae agrees, praising Model UN as “a good experience to get public speaking time and learn social skills by interacting with other kids interested in diplomacy.” 

Community is an essential aspect of Model UN at GHS, and members are tight-knit regardless of grade or leadership status. Members both become friends and learn from each other, listening to peers speak in a committee and cultivating research skills prior to the conference. “A student that starts as a 9th grader and is engaged throughout their time at GHS will know 7 years of students,” Mr. Tiedemann stated. “Some of these students will serve as mentors to them and others will then learn from that student.” In fact, Mr. Tiedemann cites “building a team culture over many years” as a central aspect: “Sometimes mistakes and misunderstandings happen, but like any family we have to be understanding of one another and try not to sweat the small stuff.” If you want to join the Model UN community, they meet every Monday after school in Room 405.