United Nations Association: First Year Representative

Hi I'm Sophia. 

I'm standing because I love all things UNA - everything from our speaker sessions, MUN conferences, MUN sessions and of course our pub trip after. I really love the society and can't wait to get more involved this year (I've already signed up for 4 more conferences and waiting for several more to open applications!)

I feel the role of 1st year rep is an important one as it is a bridge between new members involved and the pre-existing set up. Sometimes it can be daunting for new members to speak up if they have ideas. However, I believe in the role I will be able to facilitate this for other 1st years through my prior experience:

1. In an MUN context, as President & Chair of my school society, I have experience in dealing with the organisation that goes into running sessions.
2. Moreover, as EDI Prefect I have experience of leadership through running a committee of 30 students and learning how to collaborate to ensure all ideas and perspective are heard. 

I also see this role as an opportunity to grow and learn, and through this development i will be able to aid you more effectively

Please consider me as your 1st year rep if you want someone who cares deeply and is proactive. 

I am standing to be First Year Representative of this society because I see Model United Nations as an incredible way to meet other people from around the UK and indeed the world who share a common interest in discussing and solving the challenges that are faced all around the world today. In a more unstable world where the global number of refugees is increasing and climate change is accelerating, I feel Model United Nations is becoming increasingly important. To have a position in this society would mean feeling a greater sense of community with the other united nations societies around the country.

I am really passionate about current affairs and international relations. I am a member of Chatham House and in between classes I run off to hear people speak there. Notable individuals I have seen speak in person include, Radoslaw Sikorksi (Foreign Minister of Poland) and Nancy Pelosi (Former Speaker of the House Of Representatives). A few weeks ago I also went to Royal Festival Hall to see Yulia Navalnaya speak. Hearing leaders speak and learning from them about how they see the world is something I am very passionate about.

I really enjoyed UCLMUN and have signed up to further MUN conferences including CityMUN (Occurring this weekend as of this writing). I hope as First Year Representative I can meaningfully contribute to the running of UCLUNA and learn more about the running of the society in the hope of attaining greater responsibility in the future.

Being a first year, everything in this country and in this environment is new and unfamiliar to me–except for MUN. I didn't know 'lift' is what you call an elevator but I did know how to raise a motion for a moderated caucus. In high school, as the President of my school's MUN club, I've trained kids of all ages from middle to high school to go on and win various awards from both local and international conferences. I've attended around 30 conferences but I also need Google Maps to find my way around campus. I'm standing for First Year Rep because I believe I'm capable enough to function as a UCLUNA representative but also incapable enough to be a proper first year, and thus be able to represent one for the other. I'm eager to learn but at the same time teach, and with plenty of prior experience and a passion for MUN that persists despite studying a degree unrelated to international relations, I believe I am a suitable candidate.

Having encountered this committee’s welcoming atmosphere at UCLMUN, I’m excited to offer support for first years by focusing on two main goals: improving accessibility and fostering personal development.

Accessibility: Adapting to university-level MUN can be challenging. With my first MUN experience being the Yale MUN, I understand the hardships of building confidence in public speaking and writing pragmatic, detailed resolutions. So I will bridge the skills gap between beginners and more experienced members by advocating for beginner-friendly training sessions and workshops that focus on developing key skills in a low-pressure environment to help you feel confident and prepared.

Growth-promoting: Many may be uncertain about career options within the UN or related fields, so I plan to collaborate with the committee organizers to introduce a buddy system where first years can connect with upper-year students and committee organizers for personal advice on potential career paths. I will also advocate for personal feedback sessions from the organizers for your performance in training sessions.

Having experienced being a member of the student council and currently as UCL’s student ambassador, I am very approachable and confident in my ability to address your concerns and deliver thorough support, making sure that every first-year members feel included and . If elected, I will work at my best to ensure that you have the resources, guidance, and opportunities you need to succeed!

I’m excited at the possibility of getting a position at the UNA.  I've enjoyed participating in the weekly MUN sessions as well as attending the socials. Regarding the UNA’s weekly meetings, I enjoy the academic level and manner in which they’re held. They are academic and thought-provoking; while at the same time, the chairs and delegates provide a fun and stress-free environment thanks to their sense of humor. My first impression of this community has been great, leading me to want to become part of the team. 

In high school, I found my passion for MUN as it combines what I’m most interested in, international relations and debating. For my senior year, I was given the opportunity to be the secretary general, which I gladly took. Throughout that year I enjoyed running the weekly meetings as well as organizing the school’s conference, this was especially true as I had a great team of officers to work with. My leadership experience isn’t limited to MUN as I have also been the president of the Italian Honor Society as well as the Captain of various sports teams. 

Once I finish my studies I aim to work for an international organization.  In the interest of trying to reach this goal, I plan to continue participating in UNA activities and will try to become and remain part of the team for the remainder of my undergraduate studies. In addition to this, I plan to attend multiple MUN conferences per year as I seek to improve my public speaking, debating, and researching skills.

As an innovative thinker curious about global affairs and interested in problem solving, UCLUNA comes to me as a perfect place to not only polish my political and social acumen, but to meet and work with like-minded individuals to brainstorm actionable resolutions to address pressing global issues. Inspired by the remarkable success of UCLMUN Edition X, in which I was honoured to receive the ‘Most Researched Delegate’ award in ECOSOC as the delegate of Singapore in negotiating the ethical considerations and financing of AI in mitigating climate change, I am now committed to serving UCLUNA as the First Year Representative to take part in driving further growth of the association. I am eager to use my organisational and leadership skills to coordinate training sessions, as well as to share and exchange my public speaking and critical thinking skills with the team to further improve our performance in national and international conferences. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about assisting delegation visits, managing logistics and schedules to support our members effectively. I sincerely hope to share my passion for History and Politics, as well as my interests in collaborative resolution finding and public speaking to the team through serving as the First Year Representative of UCLUNA. 

I am excited to run for the position of First-Year Representative for UCLUNA! I am driven by my belief in the transformative power of dialogue and student engagement in addressing global issues. My experience as a leader in my previous school's MUN society and participation in numerous conferences since age 13 have equipped me with a strong foundation in international relations and the skills needed to navigate complex discussions.

My passion for diplomacy was ignited during a pivotal trip to The Hague, where I first encountered the International Peace Palace. This experience deepened my understanding of the International Court of Justice and the importance of unbiased conflict resolution, inspiring me to pursue a career in the field. Thus, I am committed to fostering an environment where every voice is valued, encouraging open dialogue that challenges assumptions and broadens horizons.

As your First Year Representative, I will work to create an inclusive and dynamic community where we can tackle pressing global challenges together. Let’s inspire each other to elevate our MUN Society and make a meaningful impact. Thank you for considering my candidacy

I am standing for three main reasons. The first one is my passion - I have been doing MUN for more than 4 years now, both as a delegate and a chair, and I can proudly say it is one of my favorite things to do. If elected, I will channel this passion into pure dedication - I am NOT running to pad my CV. I will do everything in my power and effort to make the club enjoyable for not only the first years, but for everyone. 

The second reason for standing is my approachability, something I pride myself on. Being a first year rep, I will have to communicate the interests and concerns of newcomers to the leadership team - a job requiring mutual trust and communication. As such, I will ensure that I am always present, be it during in-person practices or conferences, or online through social media. 

Lastly, I am standing on the basis of my previous experience. I firstly have experience as a student council member in high school, where my job involved articulating the needs of my grade - something directly transferable to a first year rep. Furthermore, I led my high school MUN society, meaning that I have prior knowledge on how to organize, communicate and lead in a context crucial for UCLUNA. In this role, I also taught newcomers the procedure of MUN, meaning I can easily help you if you feel lost. 

As such, if elected for first year rep, I will help make UCLUNA fun, social, and both a valuable and memorable experience, not just for first years, but for everyone. 

Thank you, Robin Haller