Future We Want: HSE Students at the Model United Nations Conference in New York
The registration to the first Model United Nations conference in HSE St. Petersburg (HSEIMUN) is about to start very soon. Meanwhile, our students are travelling all around the globe to participate in other MUN conferences to get valuable experience in world politics and diplomacy.
For instance, a group of students of the BA Program “Political Science & World Politics” has just returned from the Future We Want Model United Nations, held in the UN Headquarters in New York. We have asked them to share their fresh impressions of this journey with us.
Polina Zhvanko
the 2nd-year student of Political Science and World Politics:
Participation in Future We Want Model of United Nations is one of the most valuable experiences in my entire life. I have already back to Saint Petersburg, however, I still cannot believe that two weeks ago we have been to New York walking trough Time Square and Wall Street, waking up on Manhattan, having breakfast at American restaurants and even modeling the UN at the United Nations Headquarters. We have got a lot of information about how to do the model, and how not to do it. I am sure that this knowledge will help us with organization of the HSEIMUN 2018.
I recommend everyone to take part in such events to broaden their minds. Moreover, I have been filming our trip from the very beginning till the end, so you will see how it was soon. I would like to thank our delegation for the unforgettable week in the USA and hope that we will be back next year.
Ksenia Shelomanova
the 3rd-year student of Political Science:
To be honest, I did not think at all that we would be able to go to this UN model in New York. Well, because it's too cool, too interesting and too spontaneous to be true. And the tests that we had to overcome in order to get visas and fly to America, one by one, fell upon us. But our heroic patience and the most powerful endurance were rewarded!
This trip was just amazing! Firstly, we have gained a unique experience in participating in MUN. Many of our delegation have already participated in various models, including myself, but for the first time on such a large scale. Secondly, one of the most important tasks for ourselves is to make our model as good as possible. And this MUN is a very good example. Thirdly, it was indisputably useful for ourselves, starting from the fact that we were in the UN itself and ending with the excellent practice of English. Well, the last, it's New York! We really had a wonderful adventure there; we saw a lot of places of interest in a limited time, and even did exercises in the Central Park. I’d love to make the same unforgettable MUN in St. Petersburg.
Ruslan Valiev
the 2nd-year student of Political Science and World Politics:
The news that the delegation from our university was going to participate in the most famous United Nations model in New York came as unexpectedly as all further events, which took place. I was over the moon when I finally realized that in few months we would be in the megalopolis with almost the highest skyscrapers all over the world, at the United Nations Headquarters (which I had seen only on TV previously) modeling the UN. We saw the prettiest city and visited lots of places of interest, took awesome photos against the hipster Brooklyn Bridge and rocked to the Top Of The Rock at the Rockefeller Centre. I can't even imagine how could we spend this time better. By the way, I'd like to express gratitude to our program - World Politics and Political Science - which supported us a lot from the very beginning till the very end of our adventure.
Techit Nitnara (Mawin)
the 1st-year Political Science and World Politics:
As we worked hard before we could step into this land, the United States of the America, it was a long journey of the adventure we were facing. I firstly would like to thank the faculty members that helped us to organize the trip.
I had an opportunity to attend the General Legal Assembly and discuss the topic of Accountability of the UN officials. There we were discussing an international issue as diplomats. We represented Costa Rica and did a good job. Everyone was listening to us when we had the speech and also supported our ideas. I really couldn’t believe that I was there at the same committee where real diplomats are used to sit and negotiate international issues.
We made it happen. I am grateful to my friends in the team for their support. Being the Head Delegate, it was not easy to manage things altogether at the same time. I needed to contact with other head delegates around the world, and also I needed to connect with organizers of the event. It was challenging. Moreover, delegates there are so nice and genius, after that I recognized that this world still have a new generation that is ready to change the world and want to make it better. We are good friends. Some of them are actually not focused on the International Relations studies, but medicine, education, and engineering. That's amazing. People all around the world came to work together in the one of the biggest MUN in the world. We hope to meet each other in the future in the capacity of real diplomats.
Pasha Aulia Muhammad
the 1st-year student of Political Science and World Politics:
When I received an email about the opportunity to go to the MUN in the UNHQ last year, I was doubtful about asking the university for support. In case of HSE, the university shocked me in a pleasant way. HSE accepted my proposal, and supported us all the way to the event, including many obstacles that we had to overcome.
The experience of participating in the MUN in the UN Headquarters is unforgettable indeed, and I hope that we shall return back to that great city in the not too distant future. The experience of overcoming all the challenges is very memorable for me as well. It is certainly something which I will remember for a long time to come.
Umed Rakhmatullaev
the 1st-year student of Political Science and World Politics:
Just a couple of months ago I could not imagine that I would give a speech in the UN Headquarters in New York, that I would walk down the streets of this city and enjoy the incredible skyscrapers and the delightful atmosphere of this city, that I would meet new friends overseas. It seemed to me some kind of a dream. And even when I was informed about the possibility of flying to New York to the International Model United Nations, I did not take it seriously.
However, thanks to our dream-team of like-minded people and support of our University, as well as my colleagues' patience and unlimited confidence in a success our common dream became a reality. We have been to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, discovered a lot about the life there, but most importantly, for a few days we became part of the diplomatic world, which gave us a lot of experience as well as new friends and acquaintances. Together with all this, the trip has given me personally the understanding that any dream can come true if you put maximum effort and believe in your success until the end. Once again I would like to thank my colleagues and our study program, as well as my family who made this all possible with a help of their endless support and love.