FIRST TIME EXPERIENCES

Ishan Pujari - Secretary General

As a 13-year-old participant in a Model United Nations (MUN) conference, I was initially intimidated by the older delegates who displayed confidence, influence, and preparedness. Their in-depth knowledge of current affairs and expertise in the rules of procedure amazed me, while I felt clueless at times. They engaged in passionate debates, fearlessly voiced their opinions, and skillfully backed their arguments with facts and references. Their assertiveness and professionalism inspired me to overcome my initial hesitations and actively participate in committee sessions. I realized that holding back would hinder my ability to make a meaningful impact and contribute to the negotiations. This first-time experience in MUN was a turning point for me, as I learned valuable lessons from the older delegates' approach and set a higher bar for myself in terms of preparation, engagement, and diplomacy. 

Abid Ali Qureshi - Secretary General

My journey with Model UN began with some hesitation, but ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The first time my school announced that they were going to have their own MUN delegation I didn’t give it much thought. Anyways I registered for the trials and that’s when I had my first ever conference. Before the day of the conference, I remember all of us being extremely nervous but I just forced myself to speak whenever I got the chance and that’s what I did in turn also bashed a few other delegates which was uncalled for. After the trials we ended up as a team of 13 wonderful delegates and we eventually went on to be the first ever team to win awards for our school which at the time we never thought was possible. Looking back on my MUN journey I realise it all started from a single decision which I wasn’t fully inclined to make but ended up being one of the best decisions ever. 

Nikola Peens - Head Of Logistics

I had my first MUN in March 2023 and it was definitely a great first experience! I was part of UNEP as Mauritania, which was slightly difficult to research more of because I didn’t even know where Mauritania was… it all worked out in the end however. I really liked the other delegates in my committee, and my chair was also very kind. I was able to make friends with lots of people and it was interesting to me to take part in official committee sessions for the first time. 

Meera Abdallah - Deputy Head of Logistics

My first conference was amazing, from the adrenaline rush of a new experience to the change in perspectives based on differences between countries and finally the privilege of meeting new people who were just as excited about the conference as I was. It was all very interesting and entertaining and encouraged me to continue my MUN journey. I'm so excited to be joining the Sunmarke MUN committee as it allows me to inspire more people from my school and other schools to do MUN as well as learning the process and effort that is put into each conference. I look forward to being a part of everyones' future MUN experience. 

Bailan Zhou - Head of Finance

My first Model United Nations (MUN) conference at DIA allowed me to experience a lot. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of people coming together to discuss our shared interests. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity for me to make friends. If I were to go again, I wish that I had spoken more, but overall, it was a great experience that helped me grow in my public speaking skills. 

Maria Zarea - Head of Finance

I have been to one MUN before which was not too long ago, it was an amazing first experience and the interactions with people from all over the world made it unforgettable. It was nice to get out of my comfort zone and discuss topics that are often not mentioned and making new friends along the way made it even better. The social was an event that took place in a hotel and it was where all the delegates can meet and interact without discussing MUN. It was a lovely experience and I would really recommend it to people.