For many students, speaking in front of a room full of peers can be intimidating. But members of Manhasset’s Model United Nations (MUN) club say that the team has quickly changed their fear into confidence.
This year, over 20 new delegates joined the club–now making up nearly half of its membership. They described the experience as initially intimidating but ultimately rewarding as they grew more comfortable with public speaking and sharing their ideas.
“Model UN seemed scary at first, like, who would actually want to speak up in front of a room of dozens of people about some fake topic?” Marcus Park ’29 said. “Well, once you start… you find that you speak more and more because it’s fun.”
Others shared similar experiences, noting that their perceptions of the club changed after participating.
“At first, Model UN seemed really daunting,” Chelsea Eng ’28 said. “But after going to my first conference, it became more accessible because I realized that it wasn’t as hard as it looked.”
Students emphasized that the club provides a supportive environment where everyone is learning together.
“My first Model UN experience pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Darim Mirza ’28 said. “At first I was nervous to speak, but I quickly realized everyone was learning too.”
For some, MUN continues to foster an existing interest in communication and debate.
“I came into Model UN with a love for public speaking, and it somehow made me love it even more,” Sophia Sharaf ’29 said. “There’s nothing that’s better than holding a room with just your argument.”
Current club secretary Alexandra Kong ‘26 also highlighted the enjoyment of engaging with meaningful topics.
“My first experience with Model UN was so fun,” Kong said. “I loved being able to debate with others about topics I’m passionate about.”
A former club president, Loic Hairabedian ’25, reflected on the program’s appeal and its impact on students’ engagement with global issues.
“MUN seemed like a cool way to debate and learn about global affairs. It seemed right up my alley, and my first experiences really made me excited about the club,” Hairabedian said. “I loved the role-playing aspect combined with the debate—it was like acting, but making it my own in a very specific way.”
