On October 28, Edison High Model United Nations (EHSMUN) began the 2023–2024 competition year, sending 47 delegates to the Franklin High School Model United Nations Conference (FHSMUN), surpassing past delegation numbers.

“We have more than tripled our club membership from the previous year,” said co-Secretary General of EHSMUN Ishaan Shetty ‘24. “This growth was reflected at FHSMUN, as well. Seeing our growth and the delegates’ enthusiasm really excited me for future national-level conferences.”

Delegates spent the day debating various world issues in committees, including those like the World Health Organization, which discussed “Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and Global Food,” and a reconstructed Historic United Kingdom Cabinet during The Troubles, a period of ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland. Over the course of the conference, delegates formed policy blocs and formulated detailed solutions, which were then voted on by the rest of the committee. At the end of the day, delegates were evaluated and awarded based on their leadership, communication, public speaking, and critical thinking skills.

Edison High left with an Outstanding Delegate award for Aditya Rao ‘26, a Best Delegate award for Chaithanyasri Krishnakumar ‘26, and two Most Improved awards for Vijeta Garg ‘27 and Cassandra Perera ‘27.

“As my first high school MUN conference, I found FHSMUN challenging and more competitive than previous conferences I’d been to,” said Garg, who participated in Model UN while in middle school. “But it was rewarding in the sense that I learned how to be a better delegate by seeing more experienced delegates around me.”

For delegates completely new to Model UN, FHSMUN was a glimpse into their futures in EHSMUN.

“I felt very good at my first conference even though I didn’t talk as much,” said Keshav Patel ‘27. “I still was able to understand what happens at a conference because of our meetings, and I hope to talk more in the future.”

“It brought new experiences for people who haven’t done MUN before, like me,” added Riya Patel ‘25. “It gets you out of your comfort zone since you’re speaking in front of and socializing with people you’ve never met before.”

For more experienced delegates, FHSMUN served as a benchmark for their growth.

“While watching debate, I was amazed by the number of delegates pursuing bloc leadership and taking on Q&A rounds,” said Shetty.

For Samyuktha Nair ‘26, attending FHSMUN meant coming full circle as a delegate.

This year, however, Nair needed no help getting into the swing of debate.

“This year, I felt that I could see my growth as a delegate, as I was able to lead my bloc, and make mature, well-thought-out points regarding my country’s stance,” said Nair. “Especially having taken a break from MUN over the summer, this was a great place to get back into the swing of things.”

“I felt proud. I worked hard for it, and I was just happy in the end that my hard work had paid off,” said Krishnakumar. “Some tips are to be confident, speak a lot, and move out of your comfort zone. Also, become a leader and try to be different from others in a significant and positive way.”

Overall, FHSMUN served as a looking glass into the rest of the Model UN year, exciting delegates for upcoming conferences like Princeton Model United Nations Conference (PMUNC) and Edison High’s own Model UN Conference (EHSMUNC).

“Seeing our newer delegates get heavily involved and even become bloc leaders in their FHSMUN committees makes me really look forward to the EHSMUNC,” said Shetty.