How To Join Tnca Team?

Should I join the model UN Team?

• Well, I am in grade 11 right now and I am considering whether or not I should join the model UN team. What they do seems kind of interesting. The head of the social studies department and the leader of the club personally wrote a letter to me inviting me to join the club (as I am a quite well known academic, especially when it comes to economic/political matters). However, the thing is, I'm not exactly a giddy, extroverted-socialite. Im extremely reserved, and very interverted and kind of shy as well. I'm not so sure if I would be good at the debates that would be doing. People always say that I am great at public presenting (even though i HATE how nervous i get), but I really do think I suck at debates. Its just I don't know how to counter peoples arguements, even though I think they might be illogical. I just can't verbalize whats in my mind without stopping to think for 10 minutes before I say it. I really do think, however, that debating is an important skill, as though I am not gonna go into politics, I am probably going to go into business or finance, and such a skill I think would still be important. Honestly, I am very hesitant to join. I am the type of person who likes to do very little in or out of school except my courses, I generally don't join clubs or go out with other people outside of school. And I feel that joining a club would just be complicating the free time I have that I relish so much. But on the other hand, I also feel like this is an important opportunity to develop my interpersonal and debate skills would I feel suck alot. I'm hesitant to take the opportunity, but who got anywhere without taking opportunities. I am very ambitious, and taking risks is the only feasible way to attaining my ambition, but even so, through my shyness, anxiety, and general reservation, I feel so restrained... So, what do you guys think, should I join the model UN team?

• Answer:

  Do it. There are great opportunities to learn some interesting things by being in Model UN. You have to learn about your country and the UN. I know things about Paraguay, Burundi, the Congo (formerly Zaire,) and the United States from the high school and college levels of Model UN. I learned parliamentary procedure to an amazing degree and got to be a staffer at the college level. I never did fit well with the "party down" aspect of the gatherings very well, but I had great friends and experiences. At the college level I got to work with some professors in a way that undergraduates seldom get to do so. The small group dynamics and skills paid off professionally for years. As a beginner, you probably won't be the only person in any meeting representing your nation, so you and your partner can "cooperate" in doing the debating/speaking at first, and you can work up to it. If you can write a good essay answer quickly, you can do a good debate...they are the same process. You state that others think you can do these things, so why are you voting against them? Try it. You can always bail out if the fit isn't good.