Aashir Thapa
To a first timer, MUNs may seem a foreign and intimidating concept. The idea of being in an event filled with smart suited people talking about global issues, perhaps only heard before on CNN or a late night talk show with a left wing host may be intimidating to many first timers. Not to worry delegates, a couple of pages of research, a hard head and a real drive to solve the issue at hand and you’ll be good to go. The debate may get heated, but it’s winter anyway. If you’re really committed to the MUN, primarily the debate and the agenda, the three days may be exhausting. Sometimes you tend to get so wrapped up in the aura of MUNs that you may find yourself instinctively raising a ‘Point of Order’ during the Social Studies class next morning. But that usually indicates you did well; however having the constant urge to raise a ‘Motion of Entertainment’ - not as much. And in case you’re not really bothered about the MUN at all, at least you have pictures of yourself to post on the internet.
Hopefully, you are really serious about the issue and on your way to research. A preachy advice that you may have received from many may be that “Wikipedia is not a reliable source”. However, little do they tell you that Buzzfeed isn’t one either. Remember that PDFs are always the difference makers. And while you’re at it, don’t let a ‘Which Harry Potter Character Are You!?’ quiz on the internet distract you; it may seriously hinder your confidence. In my experience delegates, typically first timers, are really intimidated by the Dias members. Remember that there is no reason to feel this way, your Dias members were once in the same position as you, frantically flipping through a heap of research, just as anxious as you are now. All I can say is as long as you’re serious enough they will not eat you alive, unless you’re using your cell phone in committee, then you deserve to be. And unless all you can do is floss, you will certainly cruise past the delegate dance as well.
On a serious note; the key to being a great ‘MUNer’ is to really immerse yourself into the issue and to really try and find every best alternative and every best solution to the agenda from your nation’s angle. You need to know that you’re fighting for a cause that is very much real and is affecting our world with immense gravity. Going to the depths of the issue requires not only pages of statistics but more importantly connecting to the emotion of the issue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying debate on the grounds of ‘poetic justice’, all I mean is develop humane reasoning to support your matter. That may not only help you win the debate but also allow the issue to manifest into your real world so you as a citizen of the world and not merely a delegate can make a difference. Who knows, you might discover what you are really passionate about, and if we all as global citizens contribute to one simple cause, the world may be a better place. So don’t walk into the committee wishing to leave with a certificate to add to your CV, focus on the cause and the medals will follow. Besides, certificates are just valuable dead trees.
Through all this, don’t forget to enjoy yourself and get lost in the moment because regardless of if you’re an avid debater or not, one thing is certain, RBS MUN 2018 will be a memorable one to you.
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