For Nada, the iSP MUN Malaysia was more than just an opportunity to enhance her debating skills. It was an unforgettable experience that forged lasting friendships and taught her the value of time. Through her involvement in the NIS MUN Club, one of our International Learning Opportunities (ILOs) at NIS, Nada gained invaluable insights. Read her story below.
“At the beginning of this school year, when it was first announced that International Schools Partnership (iSP) would be hosting an international Model United Nations (MUN) conference and students from all around the world were invited, I completely disregarded the idea of going, thinking it would not be worth the work and it would not benefit me. I later told my parents about the trip, and to my surprise, they told me that this was a golden opportunity to make new friends, strengthen my public speaking skills, and explore new cultures, and I was convinced to register.
Looking back, I realize that this trip was nothing like I first thought it to be; it was certainly worth all the work, time, and preparation, and it benefited me in ways I could never have imagined. I came back to Dubai with so many learnings taken from my iSP MUN trip; I learned how to improvise when performing a speech, how to speak confidently, how to have good, deep conversations outside of the conference, and most importantly, how to be in the present. With the use of phones and social media spreading, I never really felt like I was in the present, and because we did not have our phones with us on the trip often, I learned to live in the moment and enjoy experiences without my phone as a distraction. Of course, with my learnings came many challenges.
One of the hardest challenges I faced was rejection. My committee had many experienced debaters that had firm stances, making it more difficult for me to come up with a point that everyone would agree on. I remember that when it came to making amendments for the resolutions, my amendment was attacked and called “useless,” and although it was not the best feeling when my amendment failed, I realized that with failures come successes, and that from failures, I can better learn how to succeed.
The biggest thing I take away with me from this trip is to always take the chance. At one point, this trip was the last thing on my mind, and now, the indelible, nostalgic memories I made on the trip are all I can think of. Now, I realize how the people you never knew, can be the ones you make the best memories with, and how hard work always pays off. The missed work and tons of exams I had to endure once returning sounded like the worst news to me before this trip, but now, I look at everything more optimistically, seeing life as an opportunity to grow and flourish.”
You can read more about our students’ experience at the iSP MUN here.
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