What if you could step into the shoes of a world leader — and debate real-world issues from the floor of the United Nations? That’s exactly what students do in the Model United Nations (MUN) class at our school, where diplomacy, research and global awareness take center stage.
MUN is an international academic program that’s been around for over 80 years, giving students the chance to explore the world of international relations by representing real countries in United Nations conferences. At our school, MUN is taught by Mrs. Riley, a dedicated teacher who has brought the class to life — both in and out of the classroom.
The MUN program at our school began as a club. Mrs. Riley was first inspired to start it by her AP History students who wanted to do more with what they were learning. She ran it as a club for years before finally getting it approved as an A-G elective class four years ago. Since then, the MUN elective has become a popular class open to students from all grade levels.
“As a historian, to discuss contemporary policies and challenges with my own students who choose this elective and are drawn to curiosity as well as their passion for humanitarian issues makes me happy and proud” says Mrs. Riley.
In the class, each student is assigned a country to represent. They take on the role of a delegate, researching that country’s policies, positions and culture — even if it’s very different from their own beliefs. Then, they prepare to debate real-world issues, just like actual diplomats do.
“The hardest part is the research,” Mrs. Riley explains. “Sometimes students get assigned a country they don’t agree with politically, but they have to step into that role and defend it like a real representative.”
Kacie Bamsey (12) adds, “The media is quite censored sometimes, so learning about politics and world events from an unbiased perspective helps us really understand the truth.”
MUN doesn’t stop in the classroom. Students attend real conferences throughout the school year, held at various campuses in Southern California. The first conference of the year took place on Saturday, Nov. 27, at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, with more than 2,000 student delegates attending.
Our school’s team earned six awards at the event — an impressive accomplishment that reflects the hard work and preparation that goes into every conference.
“A lot of people think MUN is nerdy, but it’s honestly fun,” says senior Zabrinna Santiago. “Its fun to have interest where there’s a lot of experience to meet new people and grow confidence; Like a sport in an academic setting.”
A big part of MUN’s mission is helping students understand the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Goals — a set of global objectives meant to address the world’s most difficult challenges. These include ending poverty, achieving quality education, promoting gender equality, fighting climate change, and more. Through MUN, students explore how countries work together to meet these goals. Conferences often focus on these topics, helping students think critically about real solutions to real problems.
The MUN class teaches more than politics — it builds confidence, leadership, and the ability to see the world through someone else’s eyes. It’s an opportunity for students to prepare for college, future careers, and their role in a political society.And for a lot of students, its just the beginning of something even bigger.
