By June Peers

Throughout two weeks in March, the Model United Nations (MUN) Team attended two prestigious conferences: UC Berkeley’s 72nd MUN conference (BMUN) and the National High School MUN conference (NHSMUN) held in New York.

To prepare for these conferences, delegates worked tirelessly both after school and at Saturday practices. They did speaking drills and refined their position papers, a document outlining their country’s background, policies, and potential solutions geared toward addressing the issues for their committee. The most memorable part of practice is “Solution Roasting” where members present their work and receive advice from their peers on how to strengthen their solutions.  

BMUN

From March 8 to 10, the MUN Team attended BMUN, the biggest conference on the West Coast with over 150 schools and 2,000 students. Thirty-six delegates were selected to compete based on their effort, dedication, and attendance. The trip is usually reserved for upperclassmen, but incredibly this year, a lot more freshmen and sophomores were allowed to compete.

At the conference, delegates discussed various global issues–including the lack of labor rights and the difficulties developing countries face–collaborating to find a solution to these problems. Astonishingly, a large majority of GHC delegates were awarded certificates for their excellent performances at each conference session. 

Throughout their trip, the team delighted in all the moments they shared. The bus ride had scenic views of rolling hills and the Golden Gate Bridge. At night, they stopped off at Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory to take team photos. Some other notable team bonding locations were the Exploratorium and the Black Bear Diner where they held a team dinner.

NHSMUN

From March 11 to 17, the top 20 delegates traveled to New York to attend NHSMUN, an international conference with students from over 70 countries. Six individual delegates representing GHC came home with awards. Even more impressively, the overall GHC team earned the most prestigious awards offered at NHSMUN; the Award of Distinction for Research and Preparation, and another for Overall Performance. 

At the conference, delegates met with members of the Permanent Missions of Columbia. Shortly thereafter at New York Hilton Midtown, eight delegates from GHC were selected as Plenary Speakers, having the honor of speaking at closing ceremonies. 

The team explored New York’s bustling city life in their free time by traipsing Times Square. For breakfast, they ate at a gourmet eatery called Mangia.  And to end off their lovely trip, all teams participated in a Delegate Dance where they were able to let loose after a long week of research and public speaking.

After each conference, delegates not only learn a lot about global politics but also gain a greater appreciation for the activity of MUN itself.

“Other academic teams are mainly focused on competitiveness and although that’s still a good thing, MUN places a focus on diplomatic and peaceful solutions, so there’s a lot more collaboration,” junior and MUN co-captain Stephanie Dinh said.

Overall, the numerous awards the MUN took home are proof of their dedication. If you are interested in joining MUN, contact team advisor Josh Mandel.