Students Reflect on ‘Transformative Experience’ in Japan

Student members of the University of New Haven’s award-winning Model United Nations program recently returned from Japan, where they attended an international Model United Nations conference (NMUN • Japan). There, they applied what they’ve been learning in the program, explored the country, and networked with students from around the world.

Directed by Chris Haynes, Ph.D., a political science, international affairs, and national security professor, the program has been generously supported by Phil Bartels ’11 Hon. and Susan Bartels, two of the University’s most generous benefactors.

Below, three students reflect on their experience in Japan and discuss what they learned.

Kelsey Shabanowitz ’23

At conferences, no one expects me to say that I am a forensic science major. A forensic science major doing Model United Nations? Practically unheard of. Here I am, a year and a half after joining the program, and I honestly never thought I would have been in this position. If it wasn’t for a couple of my sorority sisters being in MUN, I would have never heard about it. I am glad I found out about it because I am not the same person I was when I started, and I can thank the Model United Nations program for that.

When I first started MUN in the fall 2021 semester, I did not know what to expect. I went in as one of a few new people in the class, immediately intimidated by everyone. As the semester went on, however, it became easier. The next thing I knew, I had the returning students on edge. Here I am now, soon after my third conference, and I never thought I would have had the opportunity to travel to Japan with my second family for one of my biggest passions.

Even though many people in the program are studying international affairs or national security, this program can benefit all majors. While you become increasingly aware of current global issues, MUN challenges you to improve your general life skills. Personally, I have dramatically improved my problem-solving, networking, research, leadership, and public-speaking skills. My overall demeanor changed for the better with the assistance of Dr. Haynes, the head delegates, and my fellow delegates. The feedback and overwhelming support they give you are so encouraging.

The best part about this program for me is the network that you continue to build. Going to Japan with the rest of the returning delegates reinforced a sense of family like I have never had. Getting to know delegates at conferences on a personal level is something I have never felt before, as we all come together for a common cause and create solutions to make the world a better place.

For those who are thinking about doing Model United Nations and are hesitant due to nerves, an unrelated major, or whatever the reason may be, just take the leap of faith. I promise you that once you do it, you will meet so many amazing people and develop skills that will make you stand out from the competition when starting your career search. Joining MUN was one of the best decisions that I have made, and I will always be thankful.

Joshua Cheatham ’24

Model United Nations has given me the belief that I can do whatever I want in life. I have done MUN for four semesters now, and each go around is more and more rewarding. Over these past semesters, I have seen my skills in writing, networking, public speaking, and leadership flourish, giving me the confidence that I can achieve even my biggest life and career goals.

This past November, our team had the chance to go to the international conference held in Kobe, Japan. This experience was out of this world. It was once in a lifetime. We had the opportunity to experience Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Kobe through cultural tours organized by the National Model United Nations organization and by Dr. Haynes. It was surreal. Experiencing the wonderful Japanese culture and meeting hundreds of university students from schools in Japan and abroad was incredible. One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was having lunch with students from Tokyo International University and Reitaku University and learning about their lives.

We also got to meet hundreds of students from around the world during the conference. With participants from Germany to Australia to the Philippines, it was truly a melting pot of different cultures. I truly enjoyed meeting these wonderful people, learning about their cultures, and telling them about ours. It really changed my perspective on the world and was a transformative experience I will never forget.

I strongly recommend that anyone take the Model United Nations plunge. It is a one-of-a-kind program in which Dr. Haynes has designed the class to help bring out the confidence in students and train them into becoming better professionals. Not only do the skills we learn in class help in the classroom, but they also translate to the professional world. Working with our research librarian Joseph Scollo has also helped us become smarter and more efficient with our research, giving us some incredible tools.

Going in for a fifth semester as a head delegate, I have the opportunity to teach the new students about MUN, help them become more confident individuals, and facilitate the same skill development that changed my life. I could not be more proud of who I have become, and it is all thanks to this program!

Aleksandros Spaho ’24

To be successful in life, you need the right skillset. You need to learn how to be confident in yourself, adaptable, know how to think critically and assess yourself, network, speak in public, and the list continues. Taking Model UN, I was able to develop all of these skills. Before MUN, I did not possess any of these skills. I had a hard time speaking in public and being confident. The MUN program taught me how to overcome these challenges and shaped me into a person I never knew I could be.

These skills are not only important for conferences, where you work with thousands of students from all over the world, but for real life. MUN prepares you to deal with any obstacles in life. At first, it was a little difficult to get out of my comfort zone. But once I freed myself from it, life got very exciting! I found myself transformed after acquiring and developing so many skills, such as learning how to network with people and work toward your dream career, developing the personal skills to start your own side hustle, or figuring out how to make it in the professional world.

Dr. Chris Haynes does a great job of knowing how to push and encourage each student to overcome their own barriers and also helping each individual student get in contact with the right person when it comes to career-seeking moments.

The Model UN program is enjoyable and fulfilling. You can prepare solutions to global challenges while traveling the world. Our program goes to the New York City and Washington, D.C. conferences, along with international conferences such as the one in Japan that I just attended.

Getting to be in Japan, experiencing a different culture, sightseeing, and meeting so many new people was an amazing experience. Our team lived every day to the max. We also met so many students from all over the world, including lots of great Japanese students, and we bonded so well together, making the conference experience even better.

I encourage all students on campus to give MUN a try, build your skills, and meet these amazing students. Taking the plunge will only benefit you and your future.

Kelsey Shabanowitz ’23 is a forensic science major at the University of New Haven. Joshua Cheatham ’24 and Aleksandros Spaho ’24 are international affairs majors.