Model UN: A Test of Courage For Tech Prep and Collegiate

Story and Photos by Tanai Green. 

On Thursday February 17, 2022, Friendship Tech Prep and Collegiate scholars participated in a four day Model UN Conference at DC's Washington Hilton.

At the conference, students paired off into groups representing different countries to present an argument, come up with a resolution to an historical problem, and try to get their argument across without the opposing party or parties coming in and poking holes in it. During the conference, countries had to make alliances. The competition was rough. The opposing parties would do almost anything to destroy your resolution. 

But I’m just on the outside looking in. Luckily I conducted some interviews with one student, Talaiih Ball and Model UN advisor Mr. Kenneth Pierre.

Tanai: How was the process to get the students to participate in Model UN?

Pierre: Truthfully like pulling teeth most of the time. Most of them were very eager and very much interested, particularly the last two that came on. I only had one veteran. So I had to sell the good things about it—like getting community service hours, the fact that it's a resume builder,  the experience of being an ambassador and so forth. So it didn't really take a whole lot to get them, cajole them into it. It was a neat experience…the first time for my campus…my particular campus anyways.

Tanai: On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how well do you think students did? 

Pierre: Should I be biased? Probably, I would say a seven slash eight. You know, they’re all novices. As I said, except one. They were a little intimidated the first day. They took a while to get their feet wet…just sort of feel comfortable because it’s a fierce program. But I would give them an eight. 

Tanai: Thank you.

Interview with student, Talaih Ball 

Tanai: Why did you want to participate in NAIMUN this year?

Talaih: I wanted to participate in NAIMUN because it's a new experience and I know that I've always wanted to try studying abroad. I thought it would give me a chance to really open up and socialize with different people from different countries and really get that, you know, experience, so that I wouldn’t be as uncomfortable when the time comes, and I have to do it again, because I know that once I go to college, me being a senior and about to graduate, I'm gonna have to deal with a lot more diversity in the world. 

Tanai: Okay, what were some of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? 

Talaih: Some of the challenges I have was that a lot of people look like they were intimidated by me. I was left on the sidelines.  But I did try to overcome them, I'm not gonna say I was able to overcome all of them, but I was able to overcome some of them by stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to speak to people trying to enforce a little more of a non-intimidating facade by sitting here, probably giving a little smile here and they're give a compliment. Also it was just like a challenge to really deal with the crunch times with the meetings and the committees and really be dedicated. But I was dedicated enough to say this is interesting. This is something that I really, really enjoy. So, I'm gonna push myself.

Tanai: What did you enjoy about this event?

Talaih: I enjoyed having the chance to really be independent and you know rely on my own self and show responsibility. I also enjoyed the fact that we got to literally get a feeling of how it is to be a part of a government. They really gave you that aspect of what it will be. Like if you were to run your own, you know, government and your own country or how would you handle this with a treaty or anything that has to deal with governmental society and all this other stuff and also I enjoy the fact that I got to socialize and merge with other countries to really create this bigger picture of what we could do to really become better people and also inspire other people across the world. So it also made me feel like now that I got this experience, and this was just like a test run where we could do it for fun. I want to know how it would be if I were to really do it in real life and take it out into the world.

If I'm gonna really inspire people and become a successful person who goes into government, who goes into a high paying career, that may send me far. 

Tanai: Okay, would you do it again? 

Talaih: Yes, I definitely would do it again. This was the best experience in my life and not only because of the food and the hotel, but also because it's just fun trying out new things. You never know what you can learn from it or games.  

Tanai: Thank you.

Well I had fun covering this event. It was so intriguing to watch and if anyone wants to join Model UN, do it just for the fun of it. It's an amazing experience and I think you would enjoy it. 

Tanai Green a 11th grade scholar at Friendship Collegiate Academy.