Students fly out to Qingdao for MUNiSC

On Feburary 27, a group of SMIC-I students left for Qingdao, China, to attend MUNiSC 2019, hosted by ISQ (International School of Qingdao) at Qingdao Shangri-La Hotel. MUNiSC is a three-day conference striving to provide students with an experience modeled after the real United Nations, where international students from all over China become delegates of different countries and attempt to solve global issues through debate. This year, MUNiSC 2019 focused on “Making Inroads into Reducing Poverty,” giving delegates the opportunity to address and “examine…critical aspects of poverty in the world” and come to possible solutions in eight separate committees. This year, eleven students from SMIC-I participated. Traveling by plane and bus, they arrived at Qingdao the day before the conference and settled in at the Shangri-La Hotel.

MUNiSC officially started with the Opening Ceremony. All the delegates gathered together to hear the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-Generals, and a keynote speaker deliver speeches. Afterwards, delegates dispersed to their own respective committees and gave their opening speeches, briefly introducing the chief topics they wanted to focus on and their stance regarding it. Over the next few days, the delegates in each committee worked together to solve numerous global issues which have afflicted people all over the world for years. In the process, they practiced their public-speaking, diplomacy, and critical thinking skills. 

Although MUN conferences can be grueling, they are also valuable experiences. MUNiSC also provided a valuable opportunity to meet people from all over China. “I made a lot of friends in Qingdao,” Yeseo Jeon (9A) commented. She added, “It was a very good experience talking with people from other districts and schools, and I already miss it so much!” Similarly, Dio Shin (9B) said, “Every delegate was amazing…not only in skill but [in] personality. It was also very fun…hanging out with SMIC delegates.”

SMIC-I did not come back empty-handed from MUNiSC 2019. This year, Kevin Zhou (12C) and Wenhei Wong (10A) both won Best Delegate in their committees. For Wenhei, the award was his first international one. “Winning it [made] me feel proud because I believe I have upheld the rising reputation of SMICMUN outside of Shanghai,” Wenhei said. “[It] was certainly an honor.” For Kevin, a senior, MUNiSC was his last conference, and he had went into it looking to win. “Luckily, that was successful, and everything worked out in my favor,” Kevin remarked. He added that, for him, “the best part of MUN…[is] meeting new friends.”

In recent years, MUN has expanded exponentially in SMIC-I, from our very own SMICMUN to attending other major conferences. It is sure to continue growing in the future.

Featured Image-SMIC-I delegates pose together for a group photoPhoto Courtesy of Kevin Zhou

by Esther Wu