Model United Nations is a course and student organization at Pace that trains students for an academic competition that reflects how the real United Nations (UN) functions.

This competition is broken up either regionally, nationally or internationally, and involves universities representing member states, filled with student delegations.

Those students make up the respective committees of the UN — from the General Assembly (GA) to smaller UN organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Students research their country’s stance in correlation with their respective assigned committee. They come up with solutions for conflicts ranging from peace and security to environmental problems, hunger, and human rights. Then, they attend the conference and serve some diplomatic sass. Pace University – Pleasantville has earned a very distinguished spot at these conferences due to their reputation for excellence and ongoing accomplishments every year.

It’s a pretty big deal. And you don’t need to be a Political Science major to do well – especially when the outcomes of the course are actually applicable to any future job in any industry.

Here’s why this smart sport is a must for every student:

1. Teaches you how to research and makes you globally aware:

When you receive your assigned committee, you automatically get your assigned topics as well. From prioritizing children’s rights in armed conflict zones to creating solutions for the refugee crisis, the problems of this world are unfortunately endless. You now have the unique opportunity to learn about how a specific country views and handles a specific global issue and come up with solutions for it. Not only do you become an expert on the topic, but now you’re also globally aware. So no more ignorant Facebook posts, k?

2. How to work with people that have different ideas:

At the conference, your goal is to draft resolutions and get other member states on board with your ideas, so you can all bridge gaps and work together. This can sometimes get tricky if you’re representing a country such as North Korea. Mainly because one of the most important things at the conference is to remain “in character.” Nonetheless, you need to find a way to work with others, even if your ideas aren’t always aligned… something that I hear is very common in the workforce.

3. Leadership and debate skills: 

Taking Model UN will help you dominate a room when needed. You’ll learn to debate ideas effectively and diplomatically, which will also enhance your leadership skills. Debate tactics do not include belittling other individuals who do not think like you. Rather, it’s learning how to get your ideas across respectively, while also making room for others to express themselves too, which will undoubtedly help you win the debate. Don’t believe me? Try it out for yourself.

4. Deliver impromptu speeches:

One of the more dreaded aspects of the Model UN conference for some students is the public speaking aspect. Depending on which committee you are in, the number of times you will have to deliver a speech varies. If you’re in a larger committee such as GA 1 –which is filled with hundreds of students — you’ll probably only get to speak a handful of times over the course of the conference. However, if you’re in a smaller committee such as the League of Arab States (LAS), you’ll probably end up speaking at least 30x. Now don’t be alarmed, these are not long or difficult speeches. They’re usually timed (between 30seconds – 2 minutes) and very straightforward. And I promise, by the end of the conference, you will advance tremendously in this area and get over your fear — because practice makes perfect.

5. Meet students from all over the world (hello networking!): 

This is my favorite part of Model UN. Whether you’re attending the smaller, regional conference or the larger and grander national conference (which hosts thousands of students from all around the world), you’re bound to create some awesome memories and friendships. I still talk to the friends I made at my first conference – even if they’re thousands of miles away in Australia, Spain, Germany, or China. Chances are that most students at the conference have similar interests, which is a great way to break the ice and connect globally — literally.

Interested in Model UN? Make sure you put it on your list for Spring 2016.