The Evolution of Mind

By Tom Shih

“Will the house come to order?” shouted one of the chairs attending BEIMUN XII. As this was my first MUN experience I had no idea what he meant. Because I didn’t know what was going on, I followed what the others were doing, and sat down quietly. As the chair took role, my heart was filled with excitement, but little did I know that I was a naive rabbit jumping into the brutal MUN jungle where ravenous delegates were ready to hunt and consume my inane, benign being. I made a speech defending a resolution, but in the end my ideas were torn apart by the delegates’ points of information, leaving me with low self-esteem and a feeling of insignificance. “What happened,” I wondered, “Did I fail as a delegate because I’m not as capable as the other participants? What did the successful delegates know that I didn’t?” I struggled with these thoughts for two days, and finally discovered that the key to success is to remain true to who you are.You may incorrectly assume that representing your country is more important than representing yourself as a whole. Obviously, it is important to have similar beliefs and ideas as those of the people you are representing, but it’s necessary to remember that your thoughts and ideas are just as important and valid. Each individual possesses a unique mentality for solving global issues that makes his or her proposal necessary. Individual contributions unite us in an international community where real world issues are solved. Instead of asking what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country. As soon as I came to this conclusion—this formula to being a successful delegate—I realized that I was entering a new way of thinking.This new insight not only made me a better delegate, but I also began to realize the role I played as a member of the global community. I made a conscious decision to change my ways and become a proactive environmentalist by becoming more environmentally conscious. I took notice of the negative effect our generation has had on mother earth, and I gradually began to change my wasteful ways by recycling, using ecologically - friendly products, and conserving natural resources such as water and electricity. I also became more aware and knowledgeable about the detriments of war. Before participating in MUN, I was conditioned by Hollywood to believe the glitz and glamour of war. The thought of using weaponry in lieu of words to solve conflict was greatly romanticized by media. I had accepted this manner of thinking until I joined MUN. After hearing about the horrors of war in different countries during these conferences, I began to condemn war in every form and fashion. I began to grasp the immense concept and detriments of war, such as death, poverty, and starvation. I realized the only consequences of war are more hatred towards our offenders and greater agony within our souls. My grandpa considers war a hellish ordeal, relentless and desolate, “…because nobody can save you from [the horrors of war].” Experience of such realizations and adjustments to our frame of mind are why it is essential that we put our ideas into your resolutions and speeches. We do affect others thinking at MUN.Though as individuals, the results of our actions may seem minimal, however, as a unified populace with similar goals, the effects of our collective actions can help to create a better world for future generations and every human being on earth today. It’s vital to remember to refuse the negative conformities of the world and live our lives to the fullest with conviction and verve.