Imagine a scene where high school students were diplomatically solving the world’s problems. Now imagine all that taking place on the second floor at Sachem High School North.

In one engaging and fulfilling day of international relations, students from Sachem North ran a highly successful Model United Nations Conference on Saturday, March 17. This is the seventh time the school has hosted such an event.

Students debated real-life topics and important policy issues in the following areas: the European Union, the General Assembly, the Historical Security Council, the Humans Rights Council, UN Women and the World Health Organization.

Each student and school is assigned a country and research topic and then developed a working knowledge of that area prior to the conference. The event featured teams from five other high schools on Long Island – Connetquot, Eastport-South Manor, Patchogue-Medford, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK and Ward Melville. 

“Model UN allows students to learn about world issues and become global citizens,” said Caitlyn Humann, a Sachem North student who served as Secretary General of the Model UN. “It allows us to be passionate about positions of debate and yet listen to the positions of other delegates, as we are willing and able to compromise. It sharpens our public-speaking skills and prepares us best for our future.”