Hooked

Model United Nations (MUN) started last night. We've been preparing for this for a whole year and now we're finally here in NY and competing. BYU is representing Germany and Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF or Doctors Without Borders) this year and there is a lot of pressure to win because BYU has won top honors in the past five years. However, many people say that this is the year that it just might not happen for us. One of our head delegate had to pull out because of sickness at the last minute and we have a NGO to work with this time, instead of two countries.

I was majorly stressing out about it the night before. I was busy writing speeches and cramming in little tidbits of info. But yesterday, the moment we stepped into the room, it all clicked. Working the room became natural, almost second nature. We were all smiling too much and talking too loud. But it wasn't all tea party conversation. There was a raw power struggle there. And I absolutely loved it.

In half an hour, we'll be meeting with 20 countries that we hope will join our block. This will be the pivotal moment to establish our leadership. The trick is to let them feel like they're in charge and have a stake in our coalition.

Let the games begin.