At the head of every Model UN program, there is a collection of individuals who are the embodiment of an ideal delegate. They represent the values that Model UN prides itself upon, and serve as a role model to others for the qualities they possess. However, above all, they are among the most selfless members of the Model UN Circuit, given the sacrifices they make for their delegation and community.
Given the geographical diversity of the Model UN community, the collection of these individuals is referred to by many names. Although many refer to them as an Officer Panel, to some, they are the Board of Directors, and to others, a delegation’s Secretariat. In the case of Best Delegate however, they are the Core Team.
The Best Delegate Core Team is composed of the distinguished members that have actively worked to promote Best Delegate and her interests amongst the global population, both inside and out of the Model UN Circuit. They work to ensure the continuation of the Best Delegate website, that publicizes MUN education resources accessible by the international community, in addition to, the organization of global workshops and institutions that nurture aspiring delegates. Of the Core Team, I have been given the honor and privilege to personally meet a member of the Best Delegate Core Team, Mr. Aaron Kalafarski, the current Director of Sales.
Mr. Aaron Kalafarski at Chantilly High School working directly with students on how they can personally improve and grow as delegates.
Mr. Aaron Kalafarski found out about Model UN during his freshman year of high school through his AP Human Geography teacher, who also happened to be the Sponsor of the Model UN program offered at his school. Although he did not attend a conference until the Spring of his sophomore year, he immediately fell in love with the social dynamics of Model UN and soon founded the competitive team at his high school. Over the next few years he ended up attending conferences on both a local and national level, and although he had a high rate of awards, the selfless nature that defines him as an individual, aspired for more. This led to his desire to give back to the Model UN Community and shortly thereafter participation at the MUN Institute, a unique summer program, presented by Best Delegate, for delegates with a desire and passion for learning more about Model UN, as a “diplomacy fellow” assisting the participating students. Since then, Mr. Kalafarski has assisted at every MUN Institute, including that following his college graduation, and has worked with several schools in the DMV area on the East Coast to provide opportunities for delegates. This can be apparent through his organization of a private program for 25 students from the United Arab Emirates. Through these experiences, Mr. Kalafarski has acquired numerous strategies and tips for both novice and experienced delegates however still strongly believes that understanding one thing is the key to becoming the best delegate you were meant to be.
According to Mr. Kalafarski, “Model UN is a process.” There is no rushing it. Model UN can be referred to as a “Social Sport,” and like all other sports there is “a rind, the learning process,” that everyone must get through in order to “develop that foundational understanding.” During an interview conducted on Mr. Kalafarski, he states that “the most harmful thing that a delegate can do is to automatically want to be the Best Delegate in the committee.” There is no other activity like Model UN, and therefore it takes time in order to develop those “social skills” and the “intellectual prowess to navigate through committees.” Even for the most experienced of delegates, you should always aspire to refine your skills, to focus on your weaknesses so that they do not hinder you while in committee, and to elevate your strengths to the best that they can be.
Fundamentals are what define a delegate. “To develop into a good delegate,” whether your interested in winning awards, or just even having your resolution passed, “building a solid foundation” should be the priority of every aspiring delegate. One’s ability to research, negotiate, write, speak, and a multitude of different elements that make Model UN, are only built upon years and years of practice. It is the foundational understanding of each of these elements that shape a delegate’s ability, and although “there are some students that come into Model UN with a natural innate ability for” some of these elements, the understanding and application of all the listed fundamentals, and more, is required before aspiring to become the delegate of your fullest potential. Remember, “it is not a race to try and be the Best Delegate after your first or second conference.” Although that may seem like the intent, given the competitive nature of those in the Model UN Circuit, Model UN is supposed to “help us see the world from the perspectives of different countries, on some of the world’s most pressing issues. It is supposed to expand the way we think about the world, and the way we think about ourselves.”
In obtaining the experience and spending the efforts to build upon your foundation of fundamentals, refining your new understanding will further yourself as a delegate. Self evaluation can be a turning point in a delegate’s Model UN career, as it emphasizes reflection, an integral aspect of success. In addition to recognizing the strengths and weaknesses within yourself, focusing further on social dynamics will play a factor in both a Model UN committee and in the real world. In reality, a Model UN career is simply a “series of conferences and relationships,” however physiologically, it is a “social game” that should be used as an opportunity to develop relationships and creating lasting friendships, rather than unleashing the competitive nature that is fueled by recognition and awards. Understanding this “social etiquette and the social rules of society” will be among the final stages of becoming a strong delegate, however it is always, always, important to be hungry to learn more and to never stop asking questions.
