When it comes to MUN, WHS is consistently No. 1. Why?
In early January, 181 WHS students attended the annual YMCA Model United Nations (MUN) Conference in Hershey, PA. Led by history teacher Mr. Daniel Farabaugh and English teacher Mr. David Della Fera, they won more than 20 awards, continuing the standard of excellence long associated with the Westfield delegation.
Before the conference, the students compile country data sheets and research from more than a dozen sources to write a Country Research Paper as the foundation for their debate. Although a voluntary research project would seemingly send stressed students running in the other direction, MUN attracts more students than any sports team or club: nearly 10 percent of the student body. So what is it about this organization that has students returning—and winning awards—at such a high rate?
“I can definitely say that I started because it looks good on college applications,” said senior Saranya Turimella, who was an officer for the 2017-18 conference. “But once you spend two and a half days with 2,000 kids who are so passionate about debate and these topics, you return for a completely different reason.”
Junior Justin Joseph, who won Premier Diplomat and was elected as a 2018-19 officer, said, “What attracted me to Model UN is my love of public policy and the idea that my voice has power.”
While the three-day conference is taxing, most MUN students agree it’s an experience that cannot be replicated.
“The thing about MUN that brings me back every year is the community that forms around you,” said junior Meghan Johnson, another Premier Diplomat recipient. “I spent less than three whole days with an entire room filled with people I had never seen before, and walked away being good friends with all of them. It’s magic.”
One factor crucial to Westfield’s success is the collaboration between underclassmen and upperclassmen.
“Freshmen don’t really know what they are doing, or often what they are signing up for,” said Farabaugh. “They go to the conference and are prepared with the writing, but it’s the older Westfield students who are setting a standard for them and showing them the high quality that we expect, so by the time they are juniors and seniors, they are doing that for the younger kids.”
Joseph added, “It’s the duty of the upperclassmen in Model UN to create an environment of growth and inspire students to get out of their comfort zone, and in a way, become comfortable being uncomfortable.”
“I can definitely say that I started because it looks good on college applications,” said senior Saranya Turimella, who was an officer for the 2017-18 conference. “But once you spend two and a half days with 2,000 kids who are so passionate about debate and these topics, you return for a completely different reason.”
Junior Justin Joseph, who won Premier Diplomat and was elected as a 2018-19 officer, said, “What attracted me to Model UN is my love of public policy and the idea that my voice has power.”
While the three-day conference is taxing, most MUN students agree it’s an experience that cannot be replicated.
“The thing about MUN that brings me back every year is the community that forms around you,” said junior Meghan Johnson, another Premier Diplomat recipient. “I spent less than three whole days with an entire room filled with people I had never seen before, and walked away being good friends with all of them. It’s magic.”
One factor crucial to Westfield’s success is the collaboration between underclassmen and upperclassmen.
“Freshmen don’t really know what they are doing, or often what they are signing up for,” said Farabaugh. “They go to the conference and are prepared with the writing, but it’s the older Westfield students who are setting a standard for them and showing them the high quality that we expect, so by the time they are juniors and seniors, they are doing that for the younger kids.”
Joseph added, “It’s the duty of the upperclassmen in Model UN to create an environment of growth and inspire students to get out of their comfort zone, and in a way, become comfortable being uncomfortable.”
