From January 21st through the 24th, Yale University saw 1,100 high school students from the US, Canada, Europe and Asia descend on its renowned campus for the 36th session of the Yale Model UN. Seventeen of those participants were from TFS.
The Yale Model UN is one of the largest conferences of its kind world-wide, and TFS has been making the annual trek to New Haven, Connecticut for many years. However, each trip is unique and never boring – just ask teacher advisor Jonathan Mott-Trille. “For the (nine-hour) bus trip, we had this airport-type shuttle, and the DVD player didn’t work and you couldn’t take on carry-on luggage. But the students sang, played cards and prepared. Not one of them complained!”
Those left behind were able to follow their adventure, though, thanks to the ongoing tweets posted on Mr. Mott’s Twitter account.
Once at Yale, the students were thrown into a whirl-wind of activity: new delegate training, the opening ceremonies and first committee session. Tweeted Mr. Mott from the opening ceremonies “World Peace Starts Now; TFS students offer to share their premium seating with fellow delegates from other schools. Deal-making begins...”
The next two and a half days were similarly jam-packed, with students in sessions, touring Yale and spending time with fellow delegates socially. Said Mr. Mott of the committee sessions, “Yale worked really hard to replicate the actual structure and culture of the UN, complete with organizational complexity and bureaucracy.” However, despite the challenges and rigours of dealing with a life-like UN, Mr. Mott said, “All committees were successful in reaching agreements. If these students were in charge of the real UN, it would actually work.”
That spirit of cooperation was rewarded on the final day of the conference. Of the approximately 30 awards handed out, an astounding four went to TFS delegates. Tweeted Mr. Mott excitedly: Awards: Press Corps Committee - Outstanding Delegate – Samantha T.!!!!! (9:50am), MONUC (UN Organization Mission in DR Congo) - Chloe R. wins Best Delegate (1st Place)!!!! Congrats!! (9:42 am), SPECPOL (Special Political and Decolonization Committee) - Outstanding Delegates David K. and Eli B.!!! (9:37).
We couldn’t agree more – except to add a few more exclamation points, maybe!