Sowing a Field of Memories

I vividly recall my first General Assembly, the excitement I felt listening to the Secretary General talk to us through our first MUN conference. It was a surreal and memorable experience, one that teetered on the edge of oblivion as I tried to keep the adrenaline from getting the better of me, one that I know my younger self, stuttering and legs shaking from stage fright, would certainly have refused to acknowledge.

Back then, big phrases like “fostering a collaborative experience” and “fruitful debates” were just that: big phrases to be tossed back and forth like a tennis ball. Then the Secretary General said, “We’ve all been in your place, years ago when we first started out, so don’t worry,” but those words flew straight over our ears, numb from the stress, only to be remembered later.

The entire conference flashes past, and all of a sudden you’re relaxing in your seat as the closing ceremony officially concludes, speeches thanking everyone for their presence still echoing in your head. In a flash you’re on your way home, relieved at the thought of well deserved rest.

Then there’s that bitter pang in the corner of your mind: the phone number of that friendly chairperson you forgot to ask for; the joke you wish you’d made; the clause you had the evidence to disprove but lacked the courage to challenge by raising your placard.

So this year, when you walk through the front doors of the THIMUN conference, whether you’re a first timer or a returning veteran, value and cherish every single moment. Maybe you should raise your placard and deliver that speech. Maybe you should go talk to the person who caught your interest. Trust me: it’s better to make mistakes than to have regrets. No one expects you to be perfect.

I remember when, in the Human Rights Council, a delegate voted in favour of a resolution that blatantly contradicted his country’s policies and the entire room erupted into cheers as our chairs shook their heads in smiling disappointment. Even though MUN is about role‑playing discussions on extremely serious and important topics, a seasoning of fun never hurts.

When you walk out that door on Friday, make sure that when you glance over your shoulder, you’re looking back proudly upon a colourful field of memories.