Model United Nations (MUN) intensely prepared for McMUNC, the conference on their home field which happened last week. Over 300 students from other schools came to the conference to compete. The MUN leaders were involved to keep the committees running smoothly and raise money for cancer research.

“Middle and high schoolers get together to discuss current events of the world from climate change to women’s rights in the middle east,” said senior Neha Rana, club president.

MUN is an after school club that is a real life simulation of the United Nations.

The event held at McLean High School Sept. 28 & 29 is one of the eight conferences the club attends. Other high schools come to these events to compete by discussing events and debating the solution. At these competitions, different committees of countries or people take turns speaking about worldly issues.

“A very important life skill is public speaking and confidence in general,” Rana said.

In the club a speaker must stand in the room to lead discussion and research enough to provide thoughtful answers.

Rana started MUN in 8th grade in Longfellow Middle School and has come a long way since.

“My favorite part of MUN is I love working with novices and newer members and honestly the other officers that I have with me,” Rana said.

Anyone is welcome to MUN, any skill level, anyone who just wants to try something new.In her final year in McLean she has decided to be club president and run a club with over 100 students, and do it with confidence.

“I was really shy when I was younger and before I did MUN I didn’t really know how to talk after Model UN it became so much better,” Rana said.