YMCA Model UN - Burlington County, New Jersey

Name: Jennifer Mandelblatt

Delegation: Westfield High School

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Letter:

           The YMCA Model UN is about the experience. It is about empowering delegates to make a difference, as well as providing public speaking and teamwork skills. I, Jen Mandelblatt, can honestly say that MUN has given me the confidence and incentive to make a difference. I am running for Secretary General because it is my turn to give back to the program that has helped me grow as a person and ensure that your experience for Conference 2013 is just as fulfilling.

            At this time two years ago, I probably would have laughed at the idea of being Secretary General, but from the moment I arrived at conference, I knew that being a MUN delegate was far from a mistake. I found my voice throughout the weekend, though at first it was shaky, and gained a better perspective of the world around me. My second year in the program, I was a moderator for NBC’s Economy and Finance. This allowed me the opportunity to contribute to the experience of the delegates within my sub-committee. As the weekend ended, I knew I was ready to run for officer. From a hesitant first year, I have grown to be someone that is constantly jotting down notes in my officer’s binder with ideas for conference and crossing off days until upcoming meetings.

            So you may ask, what can I do to improve your experience? After all, the role of the Secretary General to assume leadership, but reflect the voice of the delegates. While I understand there are Facebook groups, which certainly make communication easier, I intend to make a website that will be entirely separate. The website will have separate threads, which will touch upon expanding the service project and increasing preparation before conference, but will also grow to fit your needs. I find that it is too often that delegates only hear about the service project days before conference, and little thought goes into packing the can of soup or old book one wishes to donate. To fix this, on the website, there will be information about the chosen organization, personal experiences delegates have from participating in charity work similar to that of our chosen organization, and methods of fundraising and spreading awareness.

            Whether it is the first year at MUN or the last, there are nerves and confusion about conference, and who better to get advice from than our fellow delegates? One part of this website will be dedicated to sharing strategies delegates use to overcome those nerves, as well as information about proper procedure so that throughout conference, delegates will feel more comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.

           Between student government, class council, and MUN I have held titles of leadership, but have also observed other officers. With both perspectives, I understand the qualities needed to be an effective leader, and will implement them to make Model UN 2013 the best it can be. I cannot wait to meet you in January! Remember, Select Jen for Sec Gen.

Grade: 11 (must be a junior)                              Years in YMCA Model UN: 3

Country & Committee Assignment: NBC Chair                                                                                      

School /Delegation: Westfield High School

List past leadership positions held:

• NBC Ecofin Moderator
• Current chair of NBC
• Transition (Peer) Leader at my high school
• Freshman Class Council Treasurer
• Student Council Representative since 6^th grade
• Assistant Dance Teacher
• Counselor in Training at a summer camp.

List 3 strengths and 2 weaknesses you have and briefly explain:

Strengths-

• Dedication- When I find something that I am truly passionate about, I make sure to give it 100 percent. I have been a dancer for 14 years and take class 5-6 times a week, as well as help teach the youngest students. I understand the commitment of being a part of a dance company and an officer for MUN. Dedication is about recognizing that I am part of a team and my dedication affects my peers, and it is also about loving what I do, which applies to MUN.
• Loyalty- I am well acquainted with the importance of community, and being there for friends and peers. I am there to lend an ear to problems or suggestions they may have. I am respectful of individuals’ different needs and work to address them. It is the job of the Sec Gen to reflect the voice of the delegates, as well as address their concerns, and I able to take on that responsibility.
• Problem Solving- When presented with a problem, I look for the logical and realistic approach to forming a solution. This is an important quality because one of the roles as Secretary General is to improve the conference experience for delegates. To do so, it is necessary to recognize and fix the encountered problems.

Weaknesses-

• Procrastinating- I often lose track of time because I am too consumed in the thought of my assignment that I forget to put pen to paper. In the end though, my assignments are completed on time with maximum effort. Though definitely a weakness, I am improving on my time management skills and will ensure that all tasks as Sec Gen are completed on time.
• Too Hard on Myself- I set goals for myself, and intend on reaching them. Sometimes though, I set the bar too high, and am discouraged when I cannot reach it. I am working on setting more probable goals, but recognize that I should not limit myself from accomplishing my best work.

If elected as Secretary General, pick a relevant global issue you would consider as the conference theme and explain a feasible service project to address it:

            If elected, I would consider making “Equality” the conference theme. This theme would allow committees to cover a broad spectrum from religion to gender rights. For the service project, I would ask delegates to bring school supplies. Education is the path to equality, for knowledge provides a foundation that empowers people to speak up for their own equality.

Detail an instance where you acted socially responsible in accord with the goals of Y-MUN:

            Last year, I volunteered with the organization, Bridges. After helping pass out clothes and food to the people struggling with poverty, I recognized the severe lack of men’s clothing. When we returned home, a few friends and I decided to hold a clothing drive. I contacted friends, family, and members of my community, and shared with them my experience and the goal of our service project. Several full cars later, we brought the clothes to the Bridges office, and the appreciation we received was more than I could have asked for. In this single experience, I utilized a number of skills that I acquired from my experience in MUN. I recognized a problem, came up with a solution, and perhaps most importantly, I assumed responsibility as a member of a greater community.