Exploring Wartburg Castle where Martin Luther translated the bible to German!
Author: Daisy Rehbock | Major: International and Global Studies | Semester: Fall 2023
Ever since I competed at a state Model United Nations conference in high school, I knew that Model UN was an activity I wanted to continue in college. Since my major is International Studies, Model UN fit perfectly into my studies, but because it was a selective application-only class it was not until my senior year that I found the time to apply and participate in the course. Going into the fall semester I was eager to start researching the United Kingdom’s position on youth and women in peace and security as that would be what my co-delegate and I would be addressing at the conference in late November. The Model UN course, while technically falling under economics, is a course that aligns specifically with my career goals as I want to pursue diplomacy on behalf of the United States following graduation. Unlike my other study abroad experience, Model UN included almost a full semester’s-worth of classroom instruction and preparation before the study abroad experience itself. In class we worked on writing, speaking, and networking skills to ensure we would be immensely prepared for the conference itself. This class has been unlike any other course I’ve taken in my time as a student here and I owe Dr. Stapp high praise for his ability to improve my writing and speaking skills, especially in a foreign relations setting. The course was smaller than many others that I’ve taken, with only 14 students actually going to compete in Germany, which allowed the class to be extremely interactive. By the time we were turning in our position papers and gearing up to go to Germany, I felt incredibly close with every other student in the class, which was only enhanced during our time at the conference. The closeness I felt with our instructor, Dr. Stapp, and every other student in the class is unparalleled to any other class I’ve taken in college and only served to enhance the learning environment.
Once we all got to Germany, the conference began with cultural tours which included tours of Erfurt, the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Wartburg Castle, and Point Alpha. These were all extremely important local heritage sites that each played a vital role in German and global history. While it was quite chilly during most of the tours, the weight and impact of what we were being shown overpowered the windchill. We explored and learned about a forced labor camp from World War II, the castle where Martin Luther translated the bible into German, and the United States military base where they surveilled the border between East and West Germany throughout the Cold War. While the conference itself was an unforgettable academic experience, it was truly these cultural tours that left a lasting impact with me as oftentimes Americans can feel disconnected from parts of history that occurred across the ocean, so being present at each of these sites allowed me to connect to the stories they each encapsulated.
If I could take this course again or go back to tell underclassman me to apply to Model UN earlier, I definitely would. In that vein, I would absolutely recommend this course to all students, regardless of major. This fall we had students ranging in majors from biochemistry to economics, and each of them benefitted from the life skills we learned both in-class and at the international conference. No matter your future plans or current major, Model UN offers vital skills such as public speaking and networking, that is often not included in other courses. Next fall, the Model UN team is set to go to the Galapagos Islands and I would urge anyone and everyone to reach out to Dr. Stapp and apply for the course. Having the opportunity to participate in a Model UN conference in a committee comprised of students from four different continents is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will cherish forever.