YMCA Model UN - Burlington County, New Jersey

Name: Aditi Padmanabhan

Delegation: New Providence High School

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Letter:

Dear Delegates,

            When I came to this conference three years ago, I was more excited for the day off of school rather than the opportunities that Model UN could present to me. However, quite a bit has changed since then. I have grown significantly both as a delegate and as a person, largely thanks to the superb leadership that has helped make my MUN experience a great one. Through the years, I have developed a passion for the program that I want to pass on to all of you and to the future delegate, and give back to the program so much more than I have taken.

            One of my big goals for the 2013 conference, if elected, is to make it more eco- friendly. The amount of paper waste generated to read a simple amendment or resolution is simply unsustainable given the fragile state of our environment. Therefore, I am proposing to move all resolutions online. Obviously, all of the resolutions will be typed up; however, afterwards, the resolution will be placed in a cloud or bucket for that particular committee. One or two hard copies can be printed out for the authors to present from, but the amount of waste in the system is greatly reduced.

            To aid my goal of a “greener” conference, I would like for each delegate to bring in at least one fluorescent light bulb. In addition, I would like for the light bulbs to be donated in reusable bags. Already, we would have more than one thousand light bulbs! These light bulbs and bags would then be donated to a low-income green housing in New York City called the Women’s Housing and Economic Development. In addition, I would very much like to educate the residents on the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs so that they can make their own lives more environmentally friendly.

            I would also like to implement committee crisis scenarios. The issue of crisis scenarios has been handled differently at different conferences. A few years ago, we had a conference wide scenario, and last year, the issue was left up to committees. However, some did not choose to have one, which is a shame. I love the idea of crisis scenarios, since it helps steer each committee in a particular direction and has helped get many more delegates interested in the proceedings. Yet unless the topic of the scenario pertains directly the committee’s topic, it will be hard to get relevant resolutions and ideas. Last year the Council on Economic Advancement and Security Council had the same crisis scenarios, and it worked out very well. Therefore, I feel that crisis scenarios between perhaps one or two committees would be the most effective solution.

            When I came to conference three years ago, my committee chair once said, “You cannot get your opinions heard unless you raise your voice.” That saying really stuck with me. Now I would like to help you, the delegates, have a greater voice in the direction of this conference. Therefore, if elected, I propose that each of the delegates write down a theme that they would desire for next year. From these ideas the 2013 conference theme would be created. After all, Model UN is not my conference, it’s everyone’s conference, and I feel that our combined vision for 2013 can help mould it into a truly enriching experience for everyone

BIO:

Grade: 11 (must be a junior)                                      Years in YMCA Model UN: 2

Country & Committee Assignment: Council on Economic Advancement B: Barbados       

School /Delegation: New Providence High School

List past leadership positions held:

New Jersey Youth and Gov. Environmental Commissioner, 2011 – 2012

US Senate Page  – Summer 2011

List 3 strengths and 2 weaknesses you have and briefly explain

I like to believe that I have excellent interpersonal skills. I love interacting with people, listening to their problems, and giving them advice (which is usually good). I am very open to constructive criticism and am able to take criticism well. Instead of being offended by what are sometimes exceedingly harsh words, I use them to make myself a better person. I’m able to take challenges in a positive light, as opposed to viewing them as an insurmountable obstacle. As for weaknesses, two of the most prominent are my desire for perfection and lack of self confidence. Now, many would hardly consider the first a weakness, but I take it to a whole new level. Often, I can’t work well with other people because I’m not sure that they can be held to my unrealistically high standards. Thus, it is simplest for me to do the entire project myself. This attitude is unsustainable as we enter into a global economy. As for the second, many can attest that it was extremely hard for me to come into my own. It’s hard for me make decisions for myself and I often need a second opinion in order to create my first. This is the trait that needs the most amount of work if I want to grow both as a leader and a person.

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 Secretary General, I would hope that the important global issue we would address would be Renewable Energy. In order to address it, I would call for every delegate to donate at least one fluorescent light bulb to the program. At the conference, all of the collected light bulbs would be donated to a green low income housing project in New York City, called the Women’s Housing and Economic Development. In addition, I would hope to educate all of the residents on the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs in the hope that they would use this knowledge to help create a more environmentally sustainable future.

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

In the summer of eighth grade, I travelled to my family’s home in India for the summer, hoping to have a relaxing vacation. For the first few days, I simply lazed around the house, watching TV and going for walks. But after a while, I grew restless. There was a whole new world outside my door and I desired to explore it. One day, the perfect opportunity arose. My mother’s old elementary school needed a teacher’s aide for special needs children. Though it would take up a majority of my day and my entire vacation, I jumped at the chance to hopefully make a change in a child’s life. The hot, humid days in un- air conditioned rooms were unbearable, but I wouldn’t have traded that experience for anything. Designing and Implementing a “Learn by Play” program for the children had a greater sense of accomplishment for me than anything I had ever done before.  I learned so much about myself and life outside my perfect world here in the US during that month, and I left feeling like I had made a difference however small it might have been.