Model United Nations "Together we aspire, together we achieve"

1. In comparison with other 3-credit courses, how much effort did the NMUN participation require of you?

The efforts that I put in for the NMUN cannot be compared to any other course I have taken at Rider. This course has required a lot effort, which I think is good thing since I have learned to be more committed to my academics.

The majority of the courses that I have taken at Rider have required only basic things such as class participation, reading, and writing. However, the NMUN course has required for me to do research, to work as a team with my classmates and of course, to spend an amazing week discussing the class project in a conference.

Academically, the NMUN experience has indeed expanded my knowledge in the fields of international affairs and global issues. This experience gave me the opportunity to do an extensive amount of research on the country of New Zealand and on different organizations such as the United Nations.

I was able to learn about different countries and the issues that they encounter, as well as their respective governments and cultures. I was also able to learn about the importance of organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Union (EU) and many others.

Being a delegate of the World Conference Against Racism helped understand how different nations view the problem of racism and the clear relationship that exist between racism and poverty. I also had the opportunity to study the issue of the double discrimination against women and children and how this issue remains as a very common one in many different parts of the world.

One of the most important benefits that I have derived from this experience is indeed the friendship that I developed with my teammates. This particular group holds a very special place in my heart. It is amazing how we became so close, in such a short period of time.

We studied together, helped each other, and listened to each other and most of all we were there for each other when we needed support. We were able to take this academic experience and make it very personal. This team has been the greatest non-academic benefit that I have ever received from a course at Rider.

NMUN is an experience that all students should take advantage of. Unlike a regular course this experience help students to develop interpersonal skills as well as public speaking skills. I have personally gained many qualities through this experience and have also gained long lasting friendships. If I had the task of convincing someone to join this team I would start by telling about the many things that I have learned times that my teammates were there to support me and to help me. I would tell them how they were my listeners when I needed to be heard and how they were my friends in time of crisis.

When I first joined the team I used to question if that was what I really wanted to do. However, when I began to see the structure of the class and when I began to know more about the conference, my desires to continue increased. As the semester went by I realized that this was not just only a class, but it was more than that. It was a group of students who supported each other and worked together in order to represent our university in the biggest intercollegiate conference.

I began to enjoyed doing research for the class and learning more about the different topics of New Zealand. When we got to New York, I felt great sense of happiness when I saw so many schools and so many different people looking forward to a great experience.

When the conference began, I realized that to me, this was not a class. It was something more than that. We did not think about our grades, but rather we thought about doing the best we could every day we were there and we just wanted to leave that conference with our heads high and saying "we did our best". I remember, that I did not even want to go to lunch or dinner. As soon as I entered that room in the morning, I did not leave it until eleven at night. And after that we got together to talk about our day and gave each other support and encouragement.

This experience has been an unforgettable one. I can never forget the amount of effort put into this experience nor can I forget the friends I have made. This experience helped me realize what was it the I wanted to do in my future and also opened the doors for new horizons. I thank NMUN and my teammates for making this experience so amazing.

Self-Evaluation index

Faculty Adviser: Dr. Chau T. Phan, 896-5262,phanc@rider.edu