Darya Foroohar, ‘20

March 2020

For their first overnight conference, BHSEC’s Model United Nations team put a new meaning into “early college” when they realized that the conference they signed up for– Brown University Crisis Simulation– was meant for college students, not high school students. The conference, made up entirely of crisis committees, was held from March 7th to March 9th and had let BHSEC sign up despite knowing that we are a high school. By the time BHSEC’s MUN team found out that BUCS was meant for college students, they were already on their way to the conference, so there was no turning back.

Crisis, a fast-paced version of MUN where delegates often represent individuals instead of countries, requires quick thinking and creativity. At BUCS, the topics ranged from on Game of Thrones to the Food Network, ensuring a crazy weekend for everyone. Only a few of BHSEC’s delegates had never been in a crisis committee, however, all were nervous due to the fact that everyone else would be in college. Most people’s nerves died after the first session, though, once they got into the spirit of committee and realized that the age of their competitors didn’t prevent them from having fun. In fact, many students found that the college conference was more relaxed than their high school ones, with delegates more inclined to cooperate instead of stabbing each other in the back.

Outside of committee, BHSEC students explored Brown’s campus, munched on tacos and nachos at the team lunch, and chilled out after three long days of committee. Saturday’s session in particular was intense, with nine hours of debate followed by a delegate dance that turned into a midnight crisis for 10th grader Jayna Rohslau. However, the team’s spirits never faltered, as they used the breaks in between committee to get closer to one another. Additionally, the team’s selfless chaperones, Dr. Rockenbach (BHSECMUN’s advisor), Mr. Ducett, and Shelley Neumier (a BHSEC parent), were always ready to help out the club, even  if they didn’t know what was going on in committee.

At closing ceremonies, BHSEC picked up some awards, with Secretary General Evan Farley and Under-Secretary General Darya Foroohar both winning Honorable Mentions in their respective committees. Everyone present agreed it was an interesting and exciting experience, even if it left most students asleep on the bus ride home.