Apeejay School, Saket student wins High Commendation at MUN

Students of Apeejay School, Saket are constantly making their mark in diverse fields of learning. Recently, Adam Bashneen of Class XI brought laurels to the school by winning a High Commendation Award in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the Ambience Diplomacy Summit. Representing Myanmar, Adam impressed the jury with his debating skills and quick thinking, securing a cash prize of Rs 3000. In this interview, Adam shares his journey, challenges, and learnings from the Model United Nations (MUN) conference.

Read edited excerpts:

How did you prepare for the MUN, given that you had exams around the same time?

Honestly, I didn’t get a lot of time. Since my exams were going on, I had just a day to prepare. I had to rush through a lot of things and even wrote some of my speeches on the spot. It was definitely challenging but also exciting.

Representing Myanmar in the UNSC must have been tough. What challenges did you face?

Yes, Myanmar was at the centre of the Rohingya conflict, which was the topic of discussion. That meant my country was targeted a lot during debates. It required me to defend my stance strongly while staying logical and diplomatic.

Was there any moment in the committee that stood out for you?

Definitely! One debate that really stood out was the argument between the Russian bloc and the American bloc over a working paper. The whole committee participated actively, and it was one of the most engaging debates I’ve witnessed.

What were your biggest takeaways from this MUN experience?

I learned how to adapt quickly to situations, especially since I was short on preparation time. It also gave me knowledge on handling diverse opinions and responding to pressure situations calmly.

What excites you the most about MUNs?

I love the thrill of competition and the challenge of handling situations where I might be at a disadvantage. Finding ways to overcome those hurdles excites me. Also, the networking aspect – meeting new people and making friends – is something I truly enjoy.

Do you plan to take up debating as a career?

Not as a full-time career. While I’m very passionate about debating and have been doing it for a while, my career interests lie in STEM. But MUNs and debating will always remain a part of my life.

What message would you like to give to fellow students?

Always question everything happening around you. Once you find your why, you’ll be able to answer many questions that come your way.