THE BLUE AND WHITE

I should’ve known things were going off the rails the moment I walked into the opening ceremony ballroom. People shouting, faculty advisors saving seats illegally, delegates networking trying to get an edge over each other. What did I get myself into? 

As a beginner delegate, I did not know what to expect; it was my first ever conference. However, the thing I least expected was the lights to dim and the secretariat being introduced like the starting line of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN INTRODUCING YOUR… SSUNS 2025 SECRETARIAT!”

As they walk from the back of the room to the stage with confidence of someone who just won an award, while the announcer is screaming their names. No matter how corny it was. At least we learned what all their names were. 

It was absurd. It was ridiculous. It was weird.

But I digress as the show must go on, however weird I may find it. The next big shock came a few hours after the opening ceremony; at the start of my first committee session. I thought maybe my committee would be 50 people. I was wrong. It was over 100 countries and 2 people per country. For a total of more than 200 delegates. When I first walked into the committee room, I felt like a fish in the ocean surrounded by sharks. So… not really the warm welcome I was hoping for. 

As everyone gets settled and debate gets opened. People start giving speeches. Honestly, I was not super impressed. Over the next 10-15 hours of committee sessions all throughout the conference, I really only listened to and met a handful of well prepared speakers. This shocked me. However, I was in a beginner friendly committee. 

Unmoderated caucuses, moderated caucuses, in-room, out-room. I did not know where to start. It was truly an amazing learning experience. Although, Montreal is quite gloomy mid-November. It makes up for it with amazing food and great culture. 

So … at the end of the day I did not place. Many people from UCC did. All-American and Mira Costa High School beat us for best large delegation. But in the words of one of our head delegates “It’s not the awards; it’s the experience, the memories, you will never go to another conference with this exact group of guys, cherish that, cherish each other.” 

And I learned a lot from this experience, I made a lot of memories, and made many new friendships. Take from this what you will; but I think the lesson you can take anyway is that you should try new things and get out of your comfort zone.