Joining MUN can be stressful and nerve-wracking. Every new delegate has concerns about what their first committee will be like, but there are ways to overcome these fears. Here are a few fears new delegates often have and some tips to help you overcome them:
“What if I mess up?”
When I first started MUN, my biggest fear was that I was going to mess up and embarrass myself in front of everyone. The best way to overcome this fear is to practice and prepare. Always have an idea of what you’re going to say, whether you write it out or have it in your head. Practice speaking whenever you can, even if it’s just in front of the mirror.
There’s no way to absolutely prevent tripping over your words or forgetting what you want to say, but that’s okay. Everyone messes up at some point. You just have to come back stronger the next time.
“What happens if my resolution doesn’t pass?”
Not every resolution has to pass. Not every resolution will pass. It may be disappointing, but that’s only part of MUN. Chances are, you don’t do MUN because you want to pass a resolution. You do it because you love it! Even if your resolution doesn’t pass, all the friends you make and the fun you have make MUN an amazing experience.
“Everyone is going to be so much better than I am!”
Everyone fears this at some point, even when they have been partaking in MUN for years. It can be stressful to be surrounded by seasoned delegates who dedicate most of their time to MUN, but, again, you aren’t there to be the smartest one in the room. Have fun! Don’t worry about who is better than who. Learn to enjoy the process, the teamwork, and even the competitive spirit.
“I don’t have enough experience.”
I had this exact fear when I did MUN for the first time. I knew nothing about MUN, my school didn’t have an MUN team, and I had no prior experience. At some point, every delegate faces a similar predicament.
Find others who have done MUN before, and talk to them about it. I know the thing that helped me before my first committee was talking to one of my friends, who had been part of MUN for years. Over time, you’ll realize that it is easy to catch on in MUN, as long as you pay attention.
“What if I don’t like it?”
Not everyone is going to love MUN, and that’s fine. However, every delegate I spoken to that has stuck with MUN doesn’t do it for their resume or their college applications. They do it because it’s a meaningful experience in many ways.
MUN can increase your confidence, introduce you to new people and take you all over the world. You can experience new cultures and meet people from every city in every state, while learning about modern issues and developing ways to solve them. Overall, MUN is an amazing experience. Don’t let your fears get in the way!
