From kindergarten to high school, one thing that seems to excite almost every student is a field trip. However, having the opportunity to hear from a former president at one of these events elevates it to a whole new level. On Saturday, March 15, the Ward Melville Model UN club returned from their NHSMUN competition in New York City. There, they not only competed in debates but also had the opportunity to hear former President Joe Biden speak.
Throughout the year, students in Model UN debate various important world issues, with one catch: students represent nations, not their own opinions. NHSMUN, a conference involving thousands of students from countries around the world, is the main event of the year, and the club prepares extensively for the multi-day discussions.
Months before the trip, delegates are given committee assignments and two possible topics for discussion. Once at NHSMUN, committees choose between the two topics through a short debate and a vote. Preparations are extensive: according to Chloe Leibstein, a Ward Melville junior and Model UN member, “You have to write a position paper, which is a four to five page essay … that consists of a topic background, country policy and solutions.” The solutions are based on the policy of the country the delegate is representing. Delegates also work hard to compile additional information about their country and topic in a research binder. (Phones are strictly prohibited during NHSMUN sessions, meaning delegates cannot research during debates.)
Delegates work hard in large groups (committees often have more than 100 people) to debate, draft resolutions, and amend those resolutions. At the conference, the goal is to work together with other nations and come to an agreement that includes your country’s priorities. However, to win an award, one often needs to go further by taking a leadership role and having an outsize impact on one of the resolutions. Both the individual and school-wide awards emphasize participation, preparation and collaboration.
Students at the conference also had a unique opportunity to hear former President Biden deliver a speech. He praised the Model UN students for joining such an impactful club and remarked that their interest in world affairs gives him hope for the future. After his remarks, he answered student-submitted questions about international and domestic relations, although none of the questions submitted by Ward Melville students were selected. Leibstein expressed that Biden’s most inspiring words were his advice to remember your purpose for being here, and his story of coming from a humble background. She said, “In today’s current society, you hear about all these people, and they have rich families … and I thought it was really cool to hear that he didn’t. … It lights a fire of possibility.”
