Author: Aaryan Phadis | Major Economics and Information Systems | Semester: Fall 2024

Pushing the Center of the Earth

National Model United Nations allows students to exercise their writing, public speaking, and interpersonal skills on an international stage. The program pulls students from across the globe to come together and address UN issues in a comprehensive simulation environment. This year’s conference was held from November 22nd to December 1st. We spent 2 nights in Quito, Ecuador, and spent the rest of the time in the Galapagos Islands. The study abroad experience encompassed 3 days of Model UN conferencing and 3 days dedicated to cultural immersion with the rest being travel days. The combination of the academic conference and the exploration of Ecuador has made me not only a more well-rounded student but an experienced international traveler.

I chose to do Model United Nations after observing the impact it had on past students. Past delegates raved about collaborating with international students, immersing themselves in a foreign culture, and becoming more articulate when explaining complex issues. I knew I had to jump on the chance and take the class. This year the conference was set in the Galapagos Islands, one of the most biodiverse areas of the world. The setting of the conference led to a distinct focus on the health of our planet. The issues discussed primarily revolved around sustainability, resource scarcity, and environmental protection. These are real issues that countries face today, and as students, we collaborated to create complex yet actionable resolutions.

The conference itself lasted 3 long days, and we were in session from 9 am to 6 pm. I was on the United Nations Environment Assembly, and we focused on sustainable infrastructure and biodiversity. My committee had 50 delegates, who had come from all across the globe. The conference taught me the importance of effective communication when collaborating. Everyone wanted their idea to be heard, and it was up to us as delegates to listen to each other. Prior to the conference, delegates spent months preparing speeches, researching issues, and immersing themselves in the role of a delegate. It was refreshing to hear new perspectives from my peers and see different writing and communication styles. For me personally, I delivered a handful of speeches that were not prewritten or memorized. I had to flex my improvisational brain; a skill that will come in handy in my professional life. I also had to mitigate conflict, as delegates with strong opinions would commonly come into conflict on how to solve certain issues. As University of Arkansas students, we spent the entire semester preparing for the conference, and it was nice to see the fruits of our labor. We took home a plethora of awards, a testament to our hard work and the guidance of Dr. Robert Stapp.

The Galapagos Islands is a wonderful place with a variety of climates, and the largest host of endemic species. On the island, we had a land tour and a sea tour. The land tour was breathtaking, as we got to see the beautiful highlands and observe El Junco lagoon. The day also included a visit to the giant Galapagos tortoises. The islands are dedicated to the conservation of tortoises, and I am grateful that we got to experience these animals in a safe environment. The next day was the sea tour which was much more adventurous. We cruised to a private beach, examined some rock formations, and most adventurous of all; snorkeled. We donned wet suits and flippers and jumped into the sea next to Kicker Rock, a land formation off the coast of San Cristobal Island. I could not believe the biodiversity of the local ecosystem. We saw sea turtles, rays, multicolor fishes, and a shark! I had never had an experience like that, and it is one I will not forget. Charles Darwin was a lucky man to have seen the biodiversity of the Galapagos in the 19th century.

One valuable lesson I learned from this trip is the value of listening. At the conference, there were some delegates who were disinterested in the words of others. They talked over delegates, paid little attention to differing viewpoints, and made collaboration a chore. I felt that listening to others made the experience more enjoyable. Delegates who listened were easier to work with and valued the perspective of others. In a cultural sense, listening to the passion of local citizens and their desire to protect the environment was fascinating. They genuinely cared about protecting their delicate ecosystem, and that passion rubbed off on me. Being more cautious about buying sustainable materials, recycling, and proper waste disposal are small things I plan on adopting as a result of my travels.

Model United Nations and its international conference is a wonderful learning opportunity. Next year, they will be traveling to Canada, and I will be sure to recruit other students to come on the journey. I hope that my younger peers experience the unique learning environment, and fully immerse themselves in an international setting.