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Self-Assessment
How has your perspective changed (on the UN, the world, or the Middle East) based on this project?
This project opened my eyes in a number of ways. Before we started the Model UN, I avoided the news, fearing that reading about real struggles may make me feel less secure, which was selfish on my part. After doing background research, I realized how lucky I am to live in the United States. The Middle East has been on the verge of one war or another for years, and I remained oblivious. The Middle East, I realized, is an area of the world where poverty is apparent and children have been born and raised amongst violence and hatred. I had never felt so privileged after I researched these issues. I also gained respect for the United Nations. Since I was not involved in world news, I wasn’t aware of how serious the issues are that the UN deals with. Especially after this nuclear weapons conference, I realized that, depending on how it’s handled, thousands of lives could be in the delegates’ hands. That’s a tremendous amount of responsibility to hold. This project forced me to look around and notice that there are places in the world that need help.
This project opened my eyes in a number of ways. Before we started the Model UN, I avoided the news, fearing that reading about real struggles may make me feel less secure, which was selfish on my part. After doing background research, I realized how lucky I am to live in the United States. The Middle East has been on the verge of one war or another for years, and I remained oblivious. The Middle East, I realized, is an area of the world where poverty is apparent and children have been born and raised amongst violence and hatred. I had never felt so privileged after I researched these issues. I also gained respect for the United Nations. Since I was not involved in world news, I wasn’t aware of how serious the issues are that the UN deals with. Especially after this nuclear weapons conference, I realized that, depending on how it’s handled, thousands of lives could be in the delegates’ hands. That’s a tremendous amount of responsibility to hold. This project forced me to look around and notice that there are places in the world that need help.
Look at what you need to improve on from your last reflection and discuss how you improved for this conference.
The first conference reflection led me to want to improve on my knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure and be more of an enforcer when it came using the time for the conference efficiently. I felt that I definitely improved on these two things at the second exhibition conference. Every time I ran an MUN conference, I felt more prepared and knowledgeable. I was able to answer what little questions the delegates did have for me, and Marley and I made good decisions regarding the speed and time usage of the conference (i.e. limiting the number of comments to two when we became concerned that we would run over the time allotted. During the second session, Marley and I made very few mistakes and were tougher on the delegates about following Parliamentary Procedure. When we transitioned jobs, it went rather seamlessly, and didn’t affect the conference at all. I believe that we were also more diligent about caucus grading than before, being that we actually walked around and listened in on the delegates’ conversations to be sure that they were participating.
The first conference reflection led me to want to improve on my knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure and be more of an enforcer when it came using the time for the conference efficiently. I felt that I definitely improved on these two things at the second exhibition conference. Every time I ran an MUN conference, I felt more prepared and knowledgeable. I was able to answer what little questions the delegates did have for me, and Marley and I made good decisions regarding the speed and time usage of the conference (i.e. limiting the number of comments to two when we became concerned that we would run over the time allotted. During the second session, Marley and I made very few mistakes and were tougher on the delegates about following Parliamentary Procedure. When we transitioned jobs, it went rather seamlessly, and didn’t affect the conference at all. I believe that we were also more diligent about caucus grading than before, being that we actually walked around and listened in on the delegates’ conversations to be sure that they were participating.
If we did a third conference, what would you most need to improve on from this conference?
I would say that I would like to improve on the secretarial aspect of the chair duties if we were to have a 3rd conference. Though I was more organized than in the first conference, there were still things that I could have done better. We had papers scattered over the desk haphazardly, and the only way Marley and I could communicate about the conference was through passing notes to each other, which was a waste of paper. Also, the speakers’ list was hard to run when we had to keep getting up to change it. I would say that I would similarly like to improve on the technical planning (i.e. seating arrangement, audience placement, microphones, SmartBoard).
I would say that I would like to improve on the secretarial aspect of the chair duties if we were to have a 3rd conference. Though I was more organized than in the first conference, there were still things that I could have done better. We had papers scattered over the desk haphazardly, and the only way Marley and I could communicate about the conference was through passing notes to each other, which was a waste of paper. Also, the speakers’ list was hard to run when we had to keep getting up to change it. I would say that I would similarly like to improve on the technical planning (i.e. seating arrangement, audience placement, microphones, SmartBoard).
Give yourself a grade for the conference and explain why this is a grade you deserve.
I believe that I deserve an A for my performance in this conference. Being a chair meant doing the tedious duties for the conference like copying papers and reading resolutions. I worked very hard to make the conference as good as it could possibly be, and I felt that Marley and I did an excellent job in making sure everyone was properly prepared, including ourselves. We spent a lot of time choosing the docket, making sure that several different points of view were represented, as well as multiple solutions. We were very responsible throughout the entire MUN process, and several delegates complimented both Marley and I on our performances. Marley and I also stepped up when our teacher was gone for a week and took responsibility for making sure that everyone who needed help was getting it. Being a chair was a fun job, and a difficult job, and I believe that I did it very well.
I believe that I deserve an A for my performance in this conference. Being a chair meant doing the tedious duties for the conference like copying papers and reading resolutions. I worked very hard to make the conference as good as it could possibly be, and I felt that Marley and I did an excellent job in making sure everyone was properly prepared, including ourselves. We spent a lot of time choosing the docket, making sure that several different points of view were represented, as well as multiple solutions. We were very responsible throughout the entire MUN process, and several delegates complimented both Marley and I on our performances. Marley and I also stepped up when our teacher was gone for a week and took responsibility for making sure that everyone who needed help was getting it. Being a chair was a fun job, and a difficult job, and I believe that I did it very well.