Preparation For MUN In School
"What's this?", Shravan asks, seeing a big file in my hand. "This is all the research I have done", I say. I keep it on my table. We are currently in the library where the practice session will take place.
He opens it. "These are the research papers and this is my position paper. This is the notepad given to us for writing questions to a delegate in case we want to ask them. "This is called a 'chit system', I tell him.
"You don't ask orally?", Shravan asks. "We do. But if the delegate ends the speech earlier than the time limit. If the delegate takes all the time then we write questions on the papers and it is passed to them. They write the answer on the paper and it is passed back to us", I explain.
"Also maximum two delegates are only able to ask orally. The rest are left with the chit option", I add. "And what if you don't know the answer? Are you allowed to carry devices?", Shravan asks me.
"No. Then what is the committee all about? We have to defend our country at any cost so we are not given any devices otherwise there will be no competition. If our research is good then we will be able to defend our country, otherwise we may lose", I say to him. "And we can take time in answering", I say to him.
"What else is included in this?", Shravan asks. "We have a compulsory speech we need to give about our country and also introduce the agenda and conclude it by explaining what our country has done to solve it or the perspective about this problem. It can also include the solutions I think are necessary to solve it", I say.
"Anyways. You can sit here. The chair has arrived", I tell him. "That's a human", Shravan says confused and I crack up. "The person who leads a committee is called a chair", I tell him and he gets embarrassed. "Oh", he mumbles and sits down.
I shake my head smiling at him. The committee session begins and we give our general speech. I feel a bit nervous as Shravan is here. His presence is affecting me. "All the best", he whispers and I smile. I start my speech introducing the topic and then tell what all my country has done. I end it and delegates of Russia and the United Kingdom raise their placards to ask me questions.
I get stuck at the question of Russia but answer it quickly with a confident tone after a few moments of thinking. He is impressed by my answer so he sits back down. Then the delegate of the United Kingdom asks me a question which I answer with the same amount of confidence and finally, I sit down.
I look at Shravan and find him excitedly looking at everything. He is enjoying it. That makes me smile. "Now that this has come to an end. We can move to the mod caucus or Unmod caucus", the chair says. She is a sweet girl and a smile is always plastered on her face.
"What is mod and Unmod?", Shravan asks in a hushed voice. "We prepare sub topics under the agenda to lead the committee and we give speeches on it. This is a mod caucus. And Unmod is an informal talking session where delegates can discuss which mod topic we should discuss. The only objective of an Unmod is to make sure that the committee goes in a systematic and formal manner. If it goes in a haphazard manner, then we will reach no conclusions and the committee will be unsuccessful", I explain.
"Oh", Shravan says. The Delegate of the United States of America introduces an Unmod caucus and we raise our placards in support of it. We start discussing what sub topic we should take and then one is decided. I open my file and open the page where the speech of that topic is written. "Why are you reading it? You don't need to memorise it, right?", Shravan asks.
"Reading before speaking is essential. Firstly, I can briefly speak out telling the main points of my content so that I get questions. Secondly, the more I read, the more I will be able to understand what I have written so that I am confident enough about my speech and my answers", I explain. "Also, in case I am ordered to wrap up due to exceeding the time limit, I would know what I can leave and what not", I add.
"Why do you want to take questions?", he asks confused. "MUN is all about speaking. If I sit here quietly, then there is no point in me coming here. Questions will increase my marks and hence, it is necessary to take them", I say. "This is amazing", Shravan says and I chuckle.
The mod caucus starts and the committee is taken forward. After it ends, we all pack up. "What will you do after you go home?", he asks. "Research more", I reply. "But the committee is by the end of month", Shravan says and starts helping me pack up.
"And today is the twenty-eighth of July. Only a few days left", I reply. "Looking at your research, I can say you already have prepared well", Shravan mutters. "The more you practise, the better. It is never enough", I say wisely and he chuckles.
"Where will you be on that day?", Shravan asks. "I will be in junior library", I reply. "If you guys want, you can come there", I say. "I will", he replies and I pick my things up. "I love the way you state the right things and do not fear anything at all", Shravan tells me.
"Thank you", I smile. "Shravan. Bell rang. We need to run fast otherwise we will miss the classes", I say. This half and break has already passed. "I bunked two periods", he shrugs, running. "Wait", I ran behind him.