Model United Nations (MUN) is a club centered on international problem solving. The school’s MUN club had their biggest conference of the year in early November. With more than 50 students in the club, MUN is one of the more active clubs at school. Students participate in  weekly meetings and monthly weekend conferences, where students go to other high schools and debate over international issues while taking the position of a specific country.

On November 9, 25 students piled onto a charter bus already packed with H-B Woodlawn students. It was raining, and the bus ceiling leaked the whole four-hour drive to William and Mary. Upon arrival, students were dropped off at their hotel, where they changed into western business attire and piled on a different bus.

Behind William and Mary’s football stadium, in the Sadler Center, the William and Mary High School Model United Nations (WMHSMUN) conference commenced. A three day conference with over eight hours in committee resulted in three awards for the school’s MUN club.

“It is not easy to be recognized with an award at such a big conference as WMHSMUN,” says Mr. Keith Klein, the sponsor of the MUN club, “It requires careful preparation and hard work throughout the weekend. I am really happy that six of our students showed that kind of dedication and were recognized for it.  Winning awards is not the only thing but is one of the things that makes MUN worthwhile.”

MUN is called a “coopertition,” which basically means, this is a competitive event, but try to keep it civil. Students who go to a MUN conference choose a committee to participate in roughly two weeks before the conference. The conference Secretary General, the person in charge of the conference, pre-determines the countries that students can choose to represent.

After their country and committee have been selected, students write a paper explaining their country’s stance on the topic. While at the conference, students, now called “delegates,” work with delegates from other countries to find a resolution to the issues at hand.

“I think [MUN] is a great way for students to grow in two important ways: in their knowledge about how the world works and in their skills in thinking and talking in front of an audience.” says Mr. Klein.

WHMSMUN is the only college conference the MUN club attends. There were quite a few new MUN members on the trip, and the first night’s rain did not bode well. Despite the ominous beginning, and after breaking a few shoe heels on the cobbled sidewalks, W-L delegates returned to their hotel.

“[My friend] lost her phone at the main building, and we used that as an excuse to go back and check out the ‘delegate dance’, which was one of the strangest experiences I’ve ever had,” says Sra Berhe-Abraha, a freshman who attended WHMSMUN. It was her first conference. “[The conference] was awesome, man… I got to know so many great people… that’s one of my favorite things about MUN.”

The next morning, delegates finished their committee in a one and a half hour session. Part of that last session is dedicated to FunMUN. Students debate riveting topics such as the past tense of yeet; yote vs. yeeted, best MUN themed pick-up lines, like, “Is that a placard in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”, and whether or not water is wet.

“The only [unenjoyable] thing was that I couldn’t end the trip with a Chick-Fil-A [sandwich], and had to settle for a Wawa, which was tragic,” says Berhe-Abraha. “I really think I found something I’m good at with MUN, and I enjoy it, so that’s really good.”

Students packed into the Wawa, bought sandwiches and returned to the hotel. They boarded a charter bus, settled in for a four-hour ride, and looked back on the weekend. This bus ceiling didn’t leak.