I had the pleasure of interviewing my great friend, and delegate Isaac Handy. When I heard that Isaac went to the Secretary General program of the Model United Nations Institute at Columbia University, I was very pleased, and excited to hear his thoughts about the program and how his experience was. I have known Isaac to be very knowledgeable, competitive, and an engaged delegate in Model UN conferences.
Isaac: My name is Isaac David Raphael Handy, I am a junior attending Brooklyn Friends School. I attended the Secretary-General Program at Columbia University.
Miles: How was the program?
Isaac: It was great. A dramatic difference in the way you learned, and how you observed other people. You get a different perspective of yourself and other delegates. You value different things as a chair rather than a delegate.
Miles: How was your transition from the beginning to the end of the program?
Isaac: Everyone was serious at the beginning; kids from other countries (Canada, Brazil, and India for example), everyone was experienced and knew their stuff. It was intimidating. However, I learned more and adapted to the conditions, and they were very friendly. With a small group of people it was even more intimidating and I didn’t know what to expect. Everyone had won awards, especially the kids from other countries. I learned a lot from those kids as they experienced different styles of MUN than what we experience in North America. Overall it was great experience.
Miles: What was your favorite part of the program?
Isaac: Final simulation where I got a chance to actually chair committee. I was thrilled to finally have the chance. Looking from the chair down rather than looking at the chair up, it was a difference appearance. You have to choose how you’re going to chair in committee. Authoritative or laid back or a mixture of both. Besides, it’s always fun just to bang a gavel.
Miles: How was your diplomacy fellow?
Isaac: I had Eric Leiden. He was really great, and experienced; he was really encouraging too. At the end he even went over our specific interests within the context chairing. We had a good 1 on 1 conversation about background guides!
Miles: Would you recommend this program from anyone else?
Isaac: It would definitely recommend the program to anyone, especially delegates who are interested in chairing.
Miles: How will you use your Best Delegate in future MUN experiences?
Isaac: We’re hoping to host a conference next year, and with that experience I would really like to help chair, and help my club leaders with it as well. As a delegate I know now differences in approaches to a MUN conference, what works and what doesn’t. I definitely feel motivated for more MUN experiences.
The Brooklyn Friends Delegation at DMUNC II in 2014. From left to right to bottom right to bottom left: Miles Nabritt, Isaac Handy with Outstanding Delegate award, Eve Bromberg, Emmitt Sklar with Best Delegate gavel award , Julia Cohen, Grace Morenko, Anna Franceschelli, Ruby Phillips, and Nick Ullman
Thank you Isaac for giving us the chance to catch up with you, we wish you the best of luck for the coming MUN season! Keep being a leader at the Brooklyn Friends school!
Article by Miles Nabritt
