Year 12 students had the incredible opportunity to travel to New York for the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference back in March. We spent five days debating real global issues, meeting students from all over the world, and, of course, exploring the most exciting city!

 

After a long and early flight, we tackled the New York subway and checked into our hotel. That evening, we headed straight to Times Square, which was amazing and the perfect place to get a million photos!

 

Day two was all about seeing as much of New York as possible! We kicked things off with an open-top bus tour, followed by a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, some shopping at Westfield, and stops at Wall Street. We also spent time at the 9/11 Museum and memorial, reflecting on the magnitude of the tragedy, which was very moving and thought provoking. That evening, it was time to get down to business at NHSMUN, with the opening ceremony and our first committee session!

 

Day three started with a walk through Central Park before meeting former President Joe Biden and listening to him speak. It was incredible being in the same room as him, and very interesting hearing him answer questions from his unique perspective. Later, we took part in more committee sessions, debating issues such as human rights, immigration, climate change, and so much more. It was amazing to represent Brazil and work with students from all over the world.

 

By day four, we were fully into our debates, taking on sessions 4 and 5, where we continued to tackle challenging topics and came to a decision on our draft resolutions.  The debates were difficult but we learned a lot, having to think on our feet, defend our positions, and negotiate with other countries. After a long day, we celebrated with a pizza dinner all together, before getting all dressed up and heading off to the NHSMUN disco!

 

The closing ceremony marked the end of an unforgettable experience, and we all felt so proud of how much we’d achieved and learned. Before heading to the airport, we squeezed in one last bit of sightseeing, going to the top of the Rockefeller Center for the best views of the city (and some great photos!)

 

This trip was honestly a once in a lifetime experience so a HUGE thank you to Mr Amos, Ms Hussain and Mr Madarbukus for taking us and making it all happen, we will never forget it!!

 

Maeve, Year 12