Professional Bickering and Pho at 1 A.M.: An Introduction to MUN
- June Park
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
On the afternoon of Friday, January 30, twelve determined students from Stevenson School across all grades departed in two loaded vans to Santa Clara. Where were they going, you ask? They were on their way to crush the first Model United Nations conference of the year.
For those unfamiliar, Model United Nations, often called Model UN or MUN, is an academic simulation of the real United Nations. Students represent different countries and debate global issues. Delegates research their assigned nation’s policies, collaborate in blocs, draft resolutions, and practice diplomacy, negotiation, and public speaking, all in a fast-paced conference setting.
The twelve students – Nishka Manchanda ‘29, Baden Faulker ‘29, Isla Turner ‘29, Hailey Law ‘28, Emily Lee ‘28, Sylvia Yao ‘28, Hana Cheung ‘28, Lucia Gaglioti ‘27, Sanaah Pande ‘27, Zola Ducker ‘27, Hezzy Horvath ‘27, and June Park ‘26 – spent the weekend immersed in debate, collaboration, and plenty of bonding outside committee sessions. Dressed in their best dress shirts, shined shoes, blazers, and updos, the students gained valuable experience with peaceful negotiation and diplomacy. Furthermore, Manchanda, Faulkner, Gaglioti, and Pande brought home awards!
For many, Model UN offers an outlet that blends debate, research, and global awareness, especially at a school without a dedicated speech and debate team. Junior Hezzy Horvath shared, “I was really looking for a debate-like club, and this was the closest that I found.” Since joining, his experience has been “so amazing! The people were great, and I had so much fun!”
Beyond the structured committee sessions, it’s often the small victories that stand out: “This was my and my partner’s first-ever conference, so everything was a pretty new experience, but the most memorable [moment] would be just the time when we established our block,” Horvath said. For him, the social aspect is just as meaningful as the debate itself: “The friends and random moments make it so much fun for me.” And for students who enjoy a spirited argument, Model UN is the perfect club to join.
For Senior Liah Yamamura, Model UN was a natural extension of her academic interests: “I’ve always been interested in international politics, so the chance of being able to research more about it and discuss it with people sounded really exciting.” She says that her involvement so far has been “such a fun experience! Whether it’s during the conference or out of it, it’s just great to spend time with people doing new activities.” Ultimately, she believes that MUN offers growth on so many levels, both as a student and a person overall.
For Junior Zola Ducker, encouragement from a friend sparked her involvement: “One of my friends encouraged me to try it out, and I wanted to try something new and out of my comfort zone academically.” That leap paid off. “It has been so fun! Our first conference was successful in terms of learning the structures and expectations of Model UN, while being a great opportunity to spend time with friends.” Her most memorable moment wasn’t just in committee: “The most memorable moment for me was coming back to the hotel after the first day of the Santa Clara Valley MUN conference and eating pho with my friends.” Ducker appreciates both the independence and collaboration the club fosters, where there is the opportunity to both learn about world topics and learn from the people she engages with. She would encourage others to join because “you can learn about the world through a new perspective, learn public speaking skills, make new friends, and understand the process of the UN on a new level.”
At the helm of the program is the club’s co-leader Junior Mia Gu, whose Model UN journey has spanned across the world: “I wanted to join Model UN because it offered so many opportunities to travel and make memories with my friends. I’ve also loved debate and public speaking since 6th grade, so Model UN was especially appealing to me.” Looking ahead, Gu has ambitious goals for Stevenson’s program. Leading the club has not been without challenges, but she is very excited to continue leading the team next year and, hopefully, take it all the way to New York.
As the team prepares for upcoming conferences, including USC’s Model UN happening this very Saturday(!!), the energy is building. With growing membership, enthusiastic leadership, and plans to expand the program even further, Model UN is quickly becoming a cornerstone of academic life at Stevenson. For students interested in global issues, debate, travel, or simply finding a close-knit and driven community, MUN may just be the perfect place to start.