JD Disturco, News editor
@JDDcourant
The Model United Nations club started the year off with a conference at NCHS on September 27 after a change in leadership from Paul Philips to Zeeshan Arastu.
The new leader, Ms. Arastu doesn’t have her sights set on winning at the moment. “I’m not looking for amazing performances as much as I am participating,” said Ms. Arastu. “Because the best way to learn Model UN is by doing.”
The team is led by one of three Senior Captains and a long-time member, Sebastian Saradakis. “I’ve been in the club since 5th grade, and I wanted to take a position where I can help others learn to love Model UN like I do,” said Sebastian. “Last year, I was the Outreach Officer, and [this year]I wanted to take it a step further.”
Model UN is a year-long effort, with competitions spread out. “Model UN begins to meet at the beginning of the school year. We have scrimmages usually through the first semester and one second semester,” said Ms. Arastu. “Then we start to get into conferences, usually one per semester. Students show up and we figure out the roles in each simulation.”
The competitors receive briefing packets two weeks in advance, and from there they prepare for the conference. “After I receive my briefing packet, I begin my preliminary research,” said Sebastian. “Then I start crafting my position paper and plan what alliances I want to form for the conference day.”
The club has seen a huge step up in leadership since they graduated key members and leaders. “Right now, our team is doing great,” said Ms. Arastu. “People are showing up and stepping into the roles that they have, and that’s what we want.”
Additionally, Model UN has seen a rise in underclassmen enrollment. “A lot of the freshmen that joined this year have little experience in Model UN,” said Sebastian. “So we especially want to foster this environment where they feel as comfortable as possible.”
The club is looking to spread its wings this year by traveling farther for conferences. “We’re traveling to places where we’re meeting people from various locations,” said Ms. Arastu. “One of the great things is that you have schools from all over the country and internationally. You get a variety of perspectives, not only from the simulations themselves but also from the people you interact with at the conferences.”
Sebastian has gained a deeper understanding of social construct from Model UN. “I learned how to use specific vocab and particular tones to get my point across while being as formal and polite as possible,” said Sebastian. “Model UN has helped me mature in ways I hadn’t realized until recently.”
Ms. Arastu believes that practicing civility shapes one’s character. “A lot of students start very shy, and by the end of their time, they know how to stand in front of a room, They know how to speak, they learn how to debate,” said Ms. Arastu. “It’s a beautiful transition to watch.”
Over time, the members and teachers of Model UN have developed a deeper connection to it. “Model UN gives me the chance to get to know the teammates well in a context different from having them as students,” said Ms. Arastu. “And that’s a unique and treasuring experience.”
