On Sept. 26, 2025, the Model United Nations (UN) club at Bay Shore High School held their first ever in school conference to start off the year strong. New members of the club were able to learn the rules of procedure, how to compromise and how to negotiate respectfully. Many first timers got the chance to give their first formal speeches in front of peers. Throughout the conference delegates strengthened these essential skills firsthand.
What is Model UN?
Model United Nations is a club where students act as delegates from different countries and debate global issues, just like the real United Nations. Model UN is a club to help students learn about real world problems while building skills in public speaking, teamwork, and problem solving.
Heather Niedzwiecki, one of the club advisors and Social Studies teacher, shared her view on what she hopes the outcomes are for students during this conference.
“Honestly, what I hope that they take away from any of these conferences is how to speak publicly. I think that it’s something that students are really uncomfortable with when they come into high school and so it’s a skill that they’re gonna need for the rest of their lives,” said Niedzwiecki. “I also hope that they gain confidence in themselves. Sometimes students research things for projects and it just sits in their brains and they’re afraid to share it and I think the platform that Model UN gives them really allows them to display what they learned and really own it and be proud of what they came up with”.
Impact way beyond the conferences
It’s never too late to join and be a part of something that challenges you to grow and connect with others. Active and committed members in Model UN can attest to this.
“You need no prior experience at all, you can know absolutely nothing about international relations, nothing about the United Nations and still do extremely well in the club almost like everyone does,” said senior Lucas Niedzwiecki.
Putting themselves out there can be scary for some people, being a part of Model UN enhances students’ confidence within themselves. Senior Atticus Muuss credits Model UN playing a big role in boosting his confidence and public speaking skills.
“I definitely, from a delicate perspective, feel a lot more confident in public speaking. Sometimes in the past I’ve been a little bit hesitant about whether or not I’m saying the right thing or whether or not I’ve researched something adequately,” said Muss. “Now I’ve just been more confident in just saying what I want to say and if it’s wrong, it’s okay, because these kinds of events are all about making mistakes.”
Some students might feel nervous about taking the leap to try something new. Freshman Ava Castro admitted she felt the same nervousness many newcomers do before joining.
“This is my first Model UN conference,” said Castro. “It’s been a really fun and exhilarating experience. I was actually a lot more nervous in the morning, but now that I’m here, it’s just such a welcoming community and it’s really fun to talk about different topics and just make new friends and learn a lot of different things.”
Model UN isn’t just a club, it’s a chance for students to lead, learn, and make a difference. So why wait? Step in, speak up, and be a part of something great.
