I organized an SI program entitled “Let’s Try Model United Nations!” In collaboration with the Model United Nations Waseda Study Association, an officially recognized club of Waseda University, we recreated within the dormitory the kind of negotiations that take place at the United Nations—an institution that can often feel distant from everyday life.
I was motivated to host this program because, through my life at WISH, I realized that many residents have a strong interest in international issues, and I felt there was a natural affinity between their interests and Model United Nations. On the day of the event, not only students interested in international relations but also those eager to develop their negotiation skills through diplomatic simulations participated. Although some first-year students seemed nervous at first, once they began acting as ambassadors representing their assigned countries, the discussions quickly became lively and intense. A strong sense of unity emerged—so much so that it was hard to believe many of them had just met for the first time.
By providing hands-on experience, we were able to break down the perception that Model UN is “too difficult” and instead create an enjoyable yet academically stimulating space for exchange.
As the organizer, I felt a great sense of accomplishment in sparking intellectual curiosity and fostering peer connections among dorm residents.
(School of Political Science and Economics S.T.)
