Model
United Nations
1997 Team (30th Year)
Representing Trinidad and Tobago
Evaluations
of the 1997 Rider NMUN Experience
I believe that I got out of the NMUN
experience much more than I had expected. What I came away with was a broad
base of knowledge extending from the operations of the UN, specific issues,
to exercising skills in public speaking, negotiating, and diplomacy. I
also came away with learning about myself. This unique experience is has
many hidden rewards. It's more than just learning different facets about
the United Nations. It's learning and exercising skills that are going
to be utilized in every aspect of life, from interpersonal relationships
to working relationships. Learning how to cooperate and compromise with
someone of a different background, culture, or political face is something
that we will face repeatedly. NMUN gave me the opportunity to practice
these skills, something I did not expect when I first began.
My experience this year is something
that I will hold positive memories for always.
We all got to know each other much better, and for myself, my existing friendships were strengthened and new ones were made.
Academically, I gained knowledge not only of the political, social, and economic facets of Trinidad and Tobago, but also of the Caribbean community. This gave me a new angle on the global community and more importantly a new understanding of a people and nation which I was unfamiliar. I also gained more knowledge in the field of researching and just how useful the technology that we have here at Rider is.
Having the opportunity to go to the United Nations and sit in one of the conference rooms and conduct a session was a historical moment for me in my life. I was in awe sitting in that room where the reality takes place. It is something that I will not forget, and it is something that not that many people or students get to do in their lifetime.
This year was quite different from last in year in two respects. One being delegation leader is more comprehensive than being a member. This position in itself requires time, patience, organization, responsibility, and the ability to be a problem solver for the rest of the delegation. I accepted this position and I am very happy that I did. I felt it was a privilege to be able to lead and teach this group. I am quite thankful that I did have three other returning members. This group was ready and willing to learn, which was quite exciting to me. They were a motivated, fun, and responsible group. So it was a pleasure to be their leader. I learned that I am capable of handling the tasks and responsibilities that a leadership position requires.
Experiencing something exciting in the realm of the United Nations, practicing life skills, learning about yourself, meeting new people from all over the world, and making new friendships are just some of the non-academic benefits of the NMUN experience. These are the impressions that I will carry with me and remember when I am older and think back to my days here at Rider. It was a truly great experience!
I learned a lot about workings in the United Nations. Before, I only heard or read about it from professors. My experience with NMUN was like an out of the classroom experience. I actually experienced the workings of the United Nations which is something you just cannot hear about or read in a textbook. You have to get out there and learn from experience. This is the major reason I would love to do this again, even if I did not receive credits for this class. This is a very valuable class to me.
I derived a lot of non-academic benefits from participating in NMUN. The major benefits were working together with other students as a team, compromising and gaining speaking skills. I learned about putting personal feeling aside while working with others. It was not like the classroom group projects. It was a little different because you really did not know these people, yet you had to work together to achieve a common goal. As far as speaking up and making compromises, that came along with the teamwork. In order to get your point across, you have to speak and compromise on virtually every aspect.
You get many benefits from Model UN that you cannot get from the classroom, no matter what class you take or whatever major you choose. I, myself, was a little hesitant about joining because of my shyness as well as being unsure as to what Model UN was about or what I would get out of it. Now, that I look back on it, it was a good decision to join NMUN and that's why I am joining Model UN next year as well.
Going into this years NMUN as second year member, I decided that I would take into account all of the mistakes I made last year, and not let them happen this year. I would say that I was very successful in doing this, which in turn made my trip to New York a lot more rewarding. I expected to use all of the experience I gained at my first NMUN, to make my second trip more successful. Judging by mine and Mike Kaiser's ability to get things accomplished in New York, I would say that most of my expectations were met. To be truthful though, I would have loved to have had the team win an award.
Because of my previous experience at last year's NMUN, I was able to use caucusing periods more effectively this year. It is one of the only times that a delegate has the ability to get their countries views across, and then argue or debate their significance. I was able to use caucusing periods to my advantage this year.
Academically speaking, I was able to gain a great knowledge of how countries from around the world react to issues that pose consequences to all of human life. The issues that I dealt with at the NMUN, such as chemical and biological weapon disarmament, are grave in nature, the outcomes of which will have an effect on everyone in the world.
It is not just the issues themselves that I gained a better knowledge of, I also learned how to communicate my ideas more effectively. I was able to work in group setting and communicate the views of our country to a bunch of complete strangers. I also learned some things this year that I did not learn last year. I learned that using the various rules of procedure to your advantage is a great help in obtaining some of your goals. I also learned that conducting yourself in a diplomatic manner can be difficult at times, especially when those around you are not.
The non-academic benefits I gained from NMUN are just as great as the academic ones. NMUN allows an individual to develop the social skills that are necessary to survive in the world today. Going into a room filled with over three hundred people that you don't know, and then being able to get your views across is not an easy thing. NMUN makes it possible for an individual to better their communication skills, and their ability to work within a group setting, two skills that are essential in the workplace.
From the perspective of non-academic benefits, I made many new friends. I got the opportunity to meet new and interesting people. I keep thinking to myself that if I never participated in NMUN I would not have opened myself up to new people and would have denied myself the opportunity to do something different. Therefore, I must say I learned the value of friendship and I hope that I can keep in touch with my fellow delegates over the years.
There were several academic benefits form participating in 1997 NMUN. The fact that one can work with other student from other schools was the most important to me. It also prepares one in the field of international relations in pursuance of a career. It is worthwhile to be able to work well with fellow students in one common goal of representing the nation assigned to the best of each student's ability.
As far as non-academic benefits of participation in NMUN the most important is the friendships and working relationships that develop with the other students of the group. It is a great experience to go to New York and to meet other student from other parts of the United States as well as the rest of the world. It was definitely the highlight of my entire academic career up till now.
On the whole it was a great experience and recommend it strongly to anyone who has never been a part of any formal voting or committee type of event.
I learned more about how to deal and negotiate with people as well as became more comfortable with formal rules of procedure. I also learned a lot about the UN and in particular the Plenary committee. Prior to this class I had no idea what any committee did. I also learned a great deal about working papers and resolutions in particular operative clauses etc.
The one thing I became more proficient at was budgeting my time and conducting research particularly on the Internet. This class forces me to read and to learn my topic as well as budgeting my time to achieve the work load that I encounter. You only get out of this class what you put in and no one is going to hold your hand. You learn to get it done.
When one experiences something it is never a memory lost, when one reads or takes an exam you may only remember for that exam. I believe that for the rest of my life I will carry this experience around with me. I doubt I would have been able to learn in one semester as I did in Model UN. The simulations, Internet experience, and the participation in New York constitutes more than any other class that I have had the opportunity to take at Rider.
Non-academic benefits are also important. I learn to work with a team, to rely on them. I also learn to work with people that I have never met in the matter of hours. I realize the frustrations of legislatures and have a better understanding why it is hard to pass some things in Congress. I learn to make speeches on moment's notice and the importance of what just 2 minutes can make. I put all type of shyness away and inter-relate as fast as possible.
I expected NUMN in New York to be very challenging and overwhelming, so I had to prepare myself to be aggressive and professional. When I arrived that first day, I must say that the number of students and participants overwhelmed me at first, but towards the end of the day I assured myself that they were just as anxious as I was and that they were there trying to do the same thing I was. I think the social gathering and atmosphere after the long day sessions really helped break the "ice" for me and a lot of students as well. These social gatherings gave participants a chance to un-wind and just meet new people. Committee sessions were just as demanding as I expected them to be. In Committee one must be very aggressive in caucus meetings to get one's ideas across, but at the same time be very professional and diplomatic. The prior simulations at school helped tremendously, and I think the second year members and teacher deserve a lot of credit for adequately preparing the first year members such as myself. The simulations gave me a great knowledge of how to write a working paper, procedural rules, caucusing techniques and behavior, and just diplomatic respect for the committee and delegation. Because of these simulations, I was able to perform well in my committee in New York. I was glad to see all of the delegates in my committee express so many different ideas, and able to work together on their ideas. I'm happy to say that all four resolutions in our committee were passed, and our country helped co-sponsor one of the resolutions and was a signatory for another. There was one issue that I was disappointed in or didn't expect would happen; I think , along with my other team members, that a lot of countries did not play in character. This scenario made things very difficult in caucusing meetings, and at times frustrated me a lot. I did not expect this to happen when I set out for New York, but I guess not all teams had the same diplomatic values and guidelines given to them as we did.
The International Relations course here at Rider really gives you important background information of the United Nations, and I encourage all future members to take the course in order to be well prepared for NMUN.
I have always been interested in International Relations and Diplomacy. This NMUN conference gave me a feel of how the actual workings of day to day delegations in committee go on. This conference showed me how frustrating and difficult some issues in committee can be, and how other countries have different values or views on issues that we as Americans don't have. This conference showed me how countries even in times of disagreement act very courteous and professional towards one another, and how the world must be able to make compromises if we are to accomplish anything. At this conference I had a lot fun and gained a lot of good experiences. I met a lot of new people from all over country and even from other countries as well. But the most memorable experiences, come from just bonding with my fellow teammates who I did not know well prior to this conference. We spent a lot time after sessions socializing and having fun.
I have learned how the United Nations works by hands-on experience. I have learned how to write resolutions, working papers, how to speak diplomatically. I have learned about a country extensively, Trinidad and Tobago.
The academic benefits really make the class worth more than what I could possibly put into it. My experience in NMUN, has given me more knowledge than any other class that I have ever taken in college, or my life. The academic experience is worth more than words could possibly describe. In certain aspects I have more political experience and education than any political science major that has not participated in NMUN. I am glad that I was granted the opportunity to become involved in this project.
I made a lot of friends, starting with my own team. I am nor more culturally rounded due to my experience in NMUN. I had lunch with people from Egypt, Panama, Canada, and many other countries. How can you benefit more when it comes to learning about other cultures? There was never a dull moment. I was able to meet a few kids from my country of origin, Lebanon, and because of this I am more in tune to what is going on in my own country. Every one that I had met was multilingual which overwhelmingly impressed me. As much as it might seem insignificant, I was able to take the train for the first time in my life, which was an experience for me.
NMUN is a project,
experience, and class that I will never forget for as long as I live, and
it had made me a better, more rounded person, for which I am eternally
grateful.
My experience this year was by far very different from last year. I learned that even though we do not participate in NMUN year around, we were adequately prepared. It seemed like those who engaged in this longer than we were might not have known the rules but tried to manipulate others to see their views on which they played themselves out of character in most instances.
What I learned non-academically this year that I didn't know last year was how to pace myself. I really relaxed during breaks and I went to sleep early in the night so that I could keep my concentration while I was in committee especially for the morning sessions.