Alex Hilton '26

I never anticipated enjoying an activity where high school students sit in a conference room wearing dress suits and discussing topics like world hunger or economics at 8:00 AM on a Saturday morning. In fact, walking into my first Model United Nations conference, I felt completely overwhelmed. I didn’t know the rules, I didn’t know anyone in the room except for my co-delegate, and I didn’t feel like I belonged. 

That feeling soon gave way to another, more unexpected one: freedom. Everyone in that room, dressed in uncomfortable clothes and armed with their opening statements, had chosen to be there. We were all there to talk passionately about real and controversial global issues without fear of judgment or criticism. 

I had fun, something I truly didn’t expect. I loved writing notes to other countries, negotiating, and eventually building my own bloc of allies to co-author a solution proposal. I not only researched and represented Luxembourg (a country I had barely heard of before), but I also started to gain more confidence in my public speaking. The first time I raised my placard to speak during a meeting, my heart was racing. I still didn't fully understand half of the Model UN procedural lingo yet, but I pushed through, and it led to even more countries wanting to work with me. 

Of all the skills Model UN has taught me, from diplomacy and assertiveness to debate and cooperation, resilience is what stands out the most. There were moments when I would present an idea to the committee that was immediately shot down, and times when entire alliances crumbled. Despite any setbacks I faced, I kept showing up, refining my arguments, and listening to others more carefully. Model UN showed me that learning how to listen to others is how real leadership begins.

Most importantly, Model UN showed me the value of understanding perspectives outside my own. Representing an actual country forced me to think beyond what I personally believed about the topic and instead step into the shoes of a nation with completely different histories, world views, and priorities. I found this very challenging, yet ultimately rewarding, as I managed to persuade many different countries to join my resolution proposal, regardless of their own complex backgrounds. 

All of the hard work, frustration, and compromise paid off when my partner and I won Outstanding Delegate at my first conference! Even better than receiving that recognition, though, was knowing that I had learned how to adapt and persevere through tough situations, while maintaining compassion for others, even my opponents.