Debating and diplomacy may not be common hobbies for many high school students, but to those Tabor Academy students involved in the Model United Nations club, these skills are paramount.
Every year, this group, led by history teacher Gary Sousa, practices articulating points, keeps up with current events, and attends conferences to put their skills to good use. The conferences take place at other prep schools or at colleges, and the most recent one that Tabor attended was a four-day trip to the Ivy League conference, hosted this year by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The club has roughly 40 members, 16 of whom attended the conference. Around 3,000 students attended the conference from all over the world: China, Brazil, Italy, England, among others.
Each school was assigned a different country and then students from these schools would act as delegates on different committees, arguing for their country’s needs and wants. The conference ran all day, from morning until late at night with breaks for lunch and dinner.
Tabor represented the Dominican Republic and was given months to prepare for the conference. They wrote position papers on different topics to reflect the DR’s desires.
“Sometimes you have to argue for a point that you don’t agree with,” says senior Stephanie Zou, the co-secretary general of the club. “It’s a really good learning experience to see issues from the other side.”
They were able to pass three resolutions, which needed to be written and passed in session, not beforehand. Fifteen total resolutions were drafted, but 12 were rejected because they didn’t get a majority vote.
“The club is a platform for students who wish to pursue intellectual passions outside of the classroom,” said Zou. “They can apply what they learn in history class and beyond to articulate their thoughts. You get to model current issues which helps you become a more globally aware citizen as well as being able to model historical events and delve deeper into the past than you normally would.”
The club definitely has an impact on its members as well, and the conferences are just opportunitites to use the skills and abilities learned.
“It helps the students involved gain confidence,” said Zou. “I know that I’ve grown a lot since freshmen year through Model UN, and I’ve definitely learned how to express myself.”
She also noted how the club “helps satisfy a desire for more knowledge,” as Zou described it.
“Everyone who attends the conference is granted the opportunity to explore something deeply and fully. Not only that, but you can learn a lot from the people who attend the conferences as well.”
The Model United Nations program at Tabor has grown a lot over recent years, with greater interest and participation across all grades. The last conference attended included a lot of newer members and underclassmen. Currently, they’re drafting a Constitution for the club, which will include a process to select future officers and solidify membership.
MUN makes its members better students, speakers, and global citizens, leaving a legacy of both learning and action.
By Madeleine Gregory