Pace University New York City students Ingrid Soto-Tornero ’15 (left) and Margarita Moffett ’16 received an Outstanding Position Paper award for their representation of Croatia at the 2015 National Model United Nations conference in Washington DC.
As a first-time Model UNer, I was not sure what to expect when I signed up for the class this Fall and prepared to attend the 2015 National Model United Nations conference in Washington DC. My familiarity with my committee assignment – UNESCO – was limited; and even more so was my knowledge of my country assignment: Croatia. I had heard about the exceptional reputation the Pace Model UN team had, but I was still nervous about my preparation compared to other delegations. So when I was sitting in the committee room at the end of the conference (my mind alternating between wondering around and listening to the award winners being called) I was utterly shocked when I heard our name called to pick up our “Outstanding Position Paper” award.
I have always really struggled with my writing skills, as I never really had much confidence in them. Before the conference, this lack of confidence plus fears that I did not know enough gave me more and more anxiety. As the conference began, my overall knowledge and my ability to quote specific research, not only from this class but also from other classes, was keeping my anxiety at ease. Still I didn’t expect to be recognized within the 100+ delegations that were represented in our committee.
Thinking back now on how low my expectations of my skills gave me such unnecessary stress, I feel silly. Even though I do not think that my personal interest or my career choices will land me working with the UN, I believe that my experience in this conference has made me more aware of all the skills that I have learned throughout my college career. The skill set I have gained from Model UN, my political science classes, my economics classes and other activities at Pace University, I now know, will really set me apart in the work force. I would fully recommend and encourage this experience for any and all students regardless of their major or interest spectrum. I know I will forever thank this Model UN experience for helping me realize all that I have learned in the last four years of college.
– Ingrid Soto-Tornero ‘15, Economics and Political Science double major.