Paths of Passion: The Art of Diplomacy

This Spring Break, 10 dedicated Model United Nations delegates from Shawnigan, including myself, attended Harvard Model Congress Europe (HMCE) in Brussels. HMCE is the premiere European Model UN conference, run completely by Harvard undergraduates. This experience not only helped me grow as a delegate, but also gave me a chance to speak with Harvard students and ask them what it’s like to attend such a prestigious school.

 

HMCE was my sixth Model UN conference, and my second three-day event. We landed in Brussels early in the morning and had a day to rest and explore before the conference. Even before we arrived, we met some of the staff in the Brussels airport. When it was conference day, the halls of the Radisson filled with hundreds of eager teenagers – from representatives of local high schools to delegations from the United States and India. If there was one thing better than the conference itself, it was probably the people I met from around the world, who all shared a passion for politics and Model UN.

 

I was in the NATO committee, representing Latvia. I was the only Shawnigan student in that committee, but that didn’t matter for long. Even before debate started, everyone was chatting and making new friends, and by the end of the first day, we all felt like we'd known each other for weeks. We didn’t have a specific topic; instead, we responded to a fictional crisis. Debate started off in lively fashion with a fictional cyber attack. Many countries wanted to retaliate, and some decided to bide their time and wait as the crisis unfolded further. As more of our fictional digital infrastructure collapsed, tensions arose – especially when we lost contact with NATO submarines. Those hackers were good.

 

On the second day, we uncovered Russia’s involvement with the cyber terrorist group. The conflict escalated to a naval battle in the North Sea, and chaotic press conferences – one of which ended with the delegate from Portugal criticizing the media. Our public image didn’t hold up for long after that. With riots breaking out in our capitals, we scrambled to draft and vote on directives. As we thought things couldn’t get worse, we learned of a Russian missile aimed directly at our bunker. We had 20 minutes to stop it or face total failure.

           

By the 15-minute mark, we still hadn’t agreed on a plan. We had two competing directives, and time was running out. We were allowed to submit one directive to stop the missile, but two were on the table. By the 18-minute mark, we decided to merge them, and had two minutes to rewrite everything. With 30 seconds left, everyone was gathered around one delegate furiously scribbling down the merged directive. With 10 seconds left, I grabbed the directive, sprinted across the room and slammed it down on the committee director’s table with less than five seconds to spare. It couldn’t have been closer if we tried.

 

On the final day, we launched counter attacks against Russia, watched them fail, and tried again. Eventually, we successfully stopped Russia, apprehended the cyber terrorist group, and restored international order. We left the committee with a sense of satisfaction, and many new friends. The closing ceremony was a sad time for all; we knew we were all going to fly back to our own countries and probably never see each other again, but that didn’t stop us from making a gossip box and having a few last moments of fun. After the conference we spent a few days touring First World War battlefields, and while it was fun, it was bittersweet to know that I will probably never see any of those newly made friends again.

 

This experience helped me grow not only as a delegate, but also as a person. HMCE required significant preparation, from multiple position papers to understanding advanced topics in international relations. Being in an advanced committee like NATO meant I was constantly challenged by sharp, motivated delegates. I improved my collaboration skills, learned how to craft reasoned arguments, and even managed to collaborate while barely being able to read delegates handwriting in hastily scribbled notes across the room. I also learned patience, and when to apply pressure to get things done.

Harvard Model Congress reminded me of the core values of Model UN. Sure, launching simulated counterattacks can be exciting, but it’s far more rewarding to solve an issue plaguing the committee, or to simply convince another delegate to sign my resolution. Even if you don’t solve the issue, there’s something special about walking away knowing you gave it your all.

None of this would have been possible without the support of Señora Carballo and Mr. Klassen. From long flights to overrun committees and crowded elevators, they were there every step of the way – checking in on us, offering advice, and making sure we got the most out of this unforgettable trip. Thank you for everything!

Alan Asprey is a Grade 10 student at Shawnigan Lake School. As a member of the Model UN 360, this trip marks his 6th conference over the past three years. Over this period, he has received multiple awards and accolades, marking his contributions and achievements.