Ouachita Stories

Nine students from Ouachita’s Sutton School of Social Sciences traveled to St. Louis, Mo., in February to participate in the Midwest Model United Nations simulation. This class stands out to me as one of the most impactful from my time at Ouachita.

Starting in the Fall semester, the Model U.N. course teaches students about the function and purpose of the United Nations and prepares them to participate in the simulation. We spent hours researching topics and our countries’ positions on important real-world issues. In class we presented our research, practiced using parliamentary procedure, and speaking in front of a group. We also debated with each other to strengthen our arguments.

This year Ouachita students represented three countries, the Marshall Islands, Syria and Vietnam, on three committees, the United Nations Environmental Assembly, General Assembly First Committee and General Assembly Third Committee.

I represented the Marshall Islands on the UNEA. Growing up in landlocked Northeast Tennessee, the perspective of an island nation was foreign to me. Model U.N. challenged me to put my preconceived notions to the side and to learn the perspective of a different country and culture on issues that have a serious impact on their day-to-day life.

While at the simulation, we spent our days in committee sessions where we worked to write and hopefully pass resolutions to address topics like “Protection of Oceans, Seas and Coasts,” “Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity,” and “Preventative Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons.” The experience can be intense, but the class prepared us well.

Once in St. Louis, we put what we had learned to the test. All nine of us had to collaborate with students from other schools representing countries that had very different goals than we did. Because of our preparation, we were able to negotiate and find compromises that led to resolutions in our committees.

Our success would not have been possible without the hard work and encouragement of Dr. Kevin Brennan, professor of political science. His humor, support and expertise made this experience one of the best from my college career.

Model U.N. has taught me many practical skills I can use in my future career such as writing, public speaking, networking, team building, leadership, critical thinking and research.

This experience has also resulted in many close friendships. For example, Addie Robertson and I have participated in Model U.N. with Ouachita for two consecutive years. This class and the journey to St. Louis have strengthened our friendship as we now share a close bond. This is true of all nine of us who participated this year. It has also made me reflect on how I interact with others.

It has also made me more compassionate.

Because of this class, I have found myself less likely to only think about what is best for me, but to consider the perspectives of others. It reminds me of Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

To accurately represent the Marshall Islands, I had to put my own perspective aside and step into the shoes of others. I had to learn how to put the interests of others before my own. That is a valuable lesson that I know will serve me well not just in my future career but in my life as I seek to faithfully follow Christ and serve others the way he did.

2025 Midwest Model U.N. Awards:

• Distinguished Delegation Award for the Marshall Islands: Erin Key, Carson Burks, and Isaac Lawson
• Delegate's Choice Award for work on the UNEA: Isaac Lawson
• Position Paper Award for the General Assembly Third Committee representing Syria: Addie Robertson
  
  

Isaac Lawson is a Christian studies and history double major from Kingsport, Tenn.

 

 

 

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