For second semester the sophomore class of 2020 started a project focused on The United Nations. We started off learning about the United Nations and how we were going replicate the work they do. This led Ally Johnson to explaining our final exhibition idea ending in a Model United Nations. Each student was selected to become a delegate of a specific country, research on each country was then given as a direction. By researching the specific problems, ours were refugees and climate change, we were then able to represent our countries as need through arguments and voting. I was the delegate of the Federal Republic of Germany, by understanding my countries points of views I was then able to write a policy paper as well as a resolution that not only Germany could support but hopefully fellow delegates as well. Each delegate did this with their countries too. During the conference we were then able to vote among the specific resolutions chosen to come to a conclusion on our next actions to fix the current problems.
Through this project, I strengthened my understanding of global issues and found myself participating in the Model United Nations Exhibition Conference. Being an introvert I find my confidence when I’m standing on a stage with lights shining into my eyes, and becoming a different character (actress). At school, I have to find ways to build my confidence in myself. Through the conference, I challenged myself to give a speech. I was confident in the knowledge that I retained about Germany’s political beliefs, I felt like I knew enough about Germany to be able to speak for them in the Model United Nations Conference. When I wrote my speech I was looking forward to the conference, though when I started practicing it out loud in front of people I became uneasy. I was very annoyed about this because I perform in front of people all the time on stage, as well as I memorize things on a daily basis. The idea of having to represent your specific country through a speech and agreeing or opposing to a specific resolution made me hesitant. Once I had my confidence I went and recorded my speech. To handle this concern of representing Germany, and making a fool of myself, during the conference, I raised my placard and said, “Point of Personal Privilege, the delegate of Germany would like to be added to the speaker’s list.” I knew by making myself speak I would be able to grow, and in the future, if I had to do another Model United Nations Conference, or even if I have to give a presentation, I will have grown and learned to help me in the future. I was also able to push myself to be confident in myself while presenting important information.
Before this project, I had never really paid attention to global issues. My family doesn’t watch the news and if something goes on in the world or in our specific town most of the time we hear it from other people. We aren’t ignoring it, we just don’t enjoy focusing on the negativity that surrounds us in our everyday life. We have wonderful talks at dinner about issues that we may have heard about during the day, though that is the deepest discussion about global issues. Through this project, it was a really interesting process to learn the political views of specific countries, as well as see global issues about refugees and climate changing. By engaging in this project, I was able to connect a few dots that I was confused about in today’s society. I was also able to come to conclusions on my own personal beliefs through learning other countries beliefs, teachers beliefs, as well as my families beliefs.