By: Isabella Alvarez and Shae Camardo
As the curtains draw to a close on this year’s Model UN conference, a group of seniors in the press corps find themselves at the intersection of nostalgia and anticipation. For these senior journalists, MUN has been much more than an extracurricular activity.
Seventeen-year-old Bethel Derege, a senior from MLK Magnet High School, is a seasoned veteran of MUN. She has grown close to these achievers from all over Tennessee, bonding with her desire to grow, learn, and experience more.
“MUN has exposed me to a diverse group of people that I probably wouldn’t have been able to meet if I had not taken part in it. It also helped me to form my own perspectives on issues, not only on the local scale but on the global scale as well” Derege said.
In the culmination of 3 years at Model UN, senior Jada Porter navigates her final year with assertion and diplomacy. The Videographer Officer was elected last year by peers for her individualism and leadership, apparent in her actions and accomplishments.
“The DGC has helped me correlate with other people. It’s been great to learn collaboration skills with my fellow officers. It has taught me how to be a leader” Porter said.
James Lawson High Senior Anton Do reflects on his 3 years spent at MUN in a slightly poignant manner, still maintaining optimism regardless. This is his first time being part of the Department of Global Communications at MUN. He has made many memories as a GA delegate and in his short yet meaningful time as Press.
“My favorite MUN memory overall, out of all the years I’ve done it, it’s definitely when it was my first year and we were in committees with Madagascar. We were listening to them present their bill which was about, um, flightless aviation birds to fight, um, wars… or something. And that was, that was an experience. Oh my god. It gave me a good laugh” Do said
MUN has provided so many opportunities for development and inspiration, on topical and deep levels. Whether it be crafting lifelong skills or honing in on humor, MUN opens up genuine human connections that can be held with someone for years.
An overall consensus takeaway from DGC is the valuable ability to learn public speaking and how to network with peers and colleagues.
“At the end of the day, confidence is key. You could have no idea what you’re talking about, but still make a valid argument for or against something. As long as you believe in what you’re saying” admits Derege.
Do agrees with Derege’s school of thought as well.
“Public speaking? Check. Because in Press and GA, you’ve got to make connections. It’s about how you treat others because talking to people is always nice. Meeting new people, new personalities; you may never know who is exactly like you, just in a different font” Do said.
“Press has helped me communicate with strangers who have the same interests as me. Being an officer has helped me improve my public speaking skills as well. First you have to run, but also you have to be able to communicate effectively to your fellow delegates” Porter said.
The benefits from DGC are wonderful keepsakes, yet sadly don’t suppress the bittersweet reminders of MUN closure and resolution.
“I’m definitely gonna be sad because coming from sophomore year all the way up, I’m gonna miss seeing all these different diverse groups of people, sharing all their stories, and seeing multiple personalities come together” Do professes.
“It feels bittersweet. I’ve been doing this since 9th grade and it feels strange that this chapter is coming to a close” Derege said.
The Department of Global Communications has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
“I would say my sense of the YMCA MUN program is that it gives connection. It gives students a very good idea of how the real world is, and a foundation for how governments across the nations interact with each other and decide ‘what do we need to do to fix this problem?’ It allows students to understand this is what I want to do in the future. This is what I want to pursue” Do said.
The DGC was asked if they had any goodbyes.
“Well, stan TXT!” Do voiced happily.