Model UN gave me a place to practice speaking up. You're handed a country and a position, and you speak for it. Four years in, I love how much that builds.
Over four years I've collected awards at regional and national conferences. They include Best Delegate, Best Position Paper, and a NAIMUN Book Award at Georgetown, which puts a delegate in the top five percent. This year I'm Head Delegate of the John P. Stevens MUN club.
What I love about it
Behind the awards are research, position papers, and a lot of listening in committee. That mix is what keeps me coming back.
As Head Delegate my job has changed. It's less about winning and more about helping newer members feel at home in their first committee. That turns out to be the part I like best.
I'm also taking Public Speaking this year for dual credit, because I want to keep getting better at this.