This year Mount Madonna School (MMS) took the largest Model United Nations (MUN) delegation it has ever had to Stanford University’s MUN conference. Our students participated in a variety of committees, ranging from a historic crisis committee dealing with the Opium Wars, to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Each of our 14 delegates was asked to engage fully with their fellow delegates and to work on resolving the issues set before them. Although most of the MMS delegates had never participated in MUN before, they threw themselves into the experience and ended up having a great time. Here is what a couple of them had to say about their experience.“My favorite part of MUN was writing solutions in the committees. Having to join forces with other countries and figure out which parts of our plans worked best was a great social experience,’ shared junior Izzy Thomas. ‘I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to other countries’ solutions and asking questions. I think this was a great way to build my social skills and problem solving skills. Being able to not only solve problems, but work together with other people is something I will use later in college and my career.”
“This experience opened my eyes to the complexity of some of the problems that the world currently faces,’ reflected junior Caroline Smith. ‘In my committee, we were looking at the issue of the diseases of affluence. It seems simple, cure the diseases, keep hospitals sanitary, train healthcare officials, etc. However, after hours of debate between countries, I realized that these problems are the opposite of simple. How do we create a solution that fits the needs of so many different countries and is affordable to developing countries that are usually the ones that need these problems solved the most? I still have no idea, but I now have a very different take on the problems that we face as a planet and realize the hard work and dedication that the delegates at the United Nations put in to try and make this planet better for us.” Overall the Stanford MUN was a successful and fun experience for all involved. Thank you to Tiffany Wayne for agreeing to help by co-heading our MUN club; and to parents Stacy Day and Christine Smith for chaperoning.
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Article by Shannon Kelly, MMS faculty member, Model United Nations club co-head
Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.