Debating world-wide issues, acting as a country, learning valuable communication and interpersonal skills and traveling to prestigious conferences are all aspects of Model United Nations (MUN).

Model United Nations helps students develop skills that can be put in place not just in the classroom, but in the real world. “Model UN teaches you to be a more confident individual, as well as how to develop your public speaking skills. MUN also encourages teamwork and negotiation skills,” senior Josh Freedman said. 

MUN is not all speeches and skill development. There is also great camaraderie to be found within MUN. “The team at Wootton is like a family. Everyone on the Wootton MUN team is supportive of one another and helps each other out. We also have great team parties and team bonding experiences,” senior and Director General Dylan Safai said. 

A big part of Model UN is the conferences. Conferences usually take place at colleges like Cornell and Georgetown or local high schools and can have hundreds to thousands of delegates in attendance. “In my opinion, the best part of the conferences is meeting new people. To date, I have attended roughly 38 conferences, and so, have had the pleasure of meeting scores of like-minded individuals from all over the globe,” Safai said. 

MUN is not only for those with an interest in politics. “There are so many committee topics outside of that sphere, whether it be sports, business, science, technology, medicine, or fantasy (like Harry Potter),” co-Secretary General and senior Shrutha Venkatesan said. 

MUN can also help students receive a more expansive education of global politics than would be covered in school. “Being in this club has helped me to be a lot more intuitive toward global affairs, which has the added pro of making my social studies classes easier to understand,” Venkatesan said. 

MUN has a positive impact on a student’s high school experience. “Reflecting back, MUN has done nothing but elevate my high school experience. I have formed so many new friends as a result of joining, and I can say with confidence that I understand more about international affairs and public speaking than I ever would have without partaking in this amazing organization,” Freedman said. 

Being in MUN can also provide a safe place and outlet to have fun while at school. “I think MUN is a great way to get involved with the school, meet new people and have fun experiences in committees all over the country and I think it’s a great opportunity for any new or returning students,” Junior Officer and sophomore Madison Moorhead said. 

MUN also offers chances for the members to educate themselves. “The most valuable thing that can be learned in MUN is how to convince others to look upon your views and agendas favorably while still remaining respectful to everyone. This is a skill that is useful not only in every career but also in daily life,” Freedman said.