cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/484594
Hey everyone! As some of you may know, I’ve finally started university this month and am pursuing Psychology and Political Science. My PoliSci professor mentioned we have a model UN club that even goes to the actual UN in New York!
The problem is I have to fill out a registration form listing 3 countries I’d like to represent, I also have to submit a one-page position paper, and a 90 second speech about climate change.
I’m asking here because I’d like your input on what countries to list and how to go about my position paper. They’re kind of vague on details about how to write said paper so I thought I’d look for guidance here since you’ve all been somewhat of a rock for me. I feel safe and balanced here especially since school is full of well meaning libs. I have horrible debilitating anxiety and I’m sort of throwing myself into the fire but I feel it’s necessary for my journey into fighting misinformation and red-scare propaganda.
I want to take advantage of the resources available to me that many are barred from accessing.
So yeah, that’s my whole thing haha. If you have any advice for dealing with the anxiety especially when it comes to debates I’d be incredibly grateful.
Will be cross posting this to freechat as I’m unsure if this fits here.
For your speech anxiety, it might sound a bit cliché, but the anxiety of presenting and speaking is much more worse during the buildup then the actual presentation. So getting over that buildup hump and getting the first word out of your mouth is the best thing you can do. At that point, even if you’re very anxious, you will most likely begin to “autopilot”. Yes it won’t be beautiful when you start, but the more you speak the better you will get, which happens very quickly! You’ve got this!
Also preparation is your savior. You don’t even need to write out every word of what you want to say in a giant essay when you start. Even just basic notes, and research will be your lifeblood.
In general though, a model UN club sounds very interesting! Even with the liberal sentiment that is bound to ooze out of a club like that, it seems like a decent place to express ML sentiment and maybe even meet likeminded people!
Still disappointed that my small forgotten college doesn’t have any clubs like that. Or very many at all for that matter.
I’m really lucky to have these opportunities so I want to take advantage of as many of them as I can. I’m definitely going to practice my speaking and debate skills with my dogs haha