She puts her heart and soul into everything she does

“Be courageous! Take the word, speak up and enjoy MUN!”

Does this advice sound familiar? It should, for these were the final comments of the MUN (Model United Nations) Secretary General, Madalina Sacareanu.

Madalina’s magnificent job in the organization and the conduction of IASIMUN brought her not only the recognition of her peers but also the appraisal of the MUN Advisor, David Pi: “She puts her heart and soul into everything she does and she embodies all the best qualities of MUN students.”

In retrospective dalliance, one could say that the odds turned to be totally in Madalina’s favor.

It looked as though she was in the best place at the best moment: a school with a valuable tradition in debating, a teacher with numerous fresh ideas and the opportunity to attend an international MUN. “Model United Nations has been my chance to pursue my passion for politics,” Madalina explained.
However, Madalina chose to dedicate herself to the Human Rights Committee, which doesn’t come in contradiction with her interests at all. “I consider that Human Rights is the sole aspect present in all of the four committees. For instance, it involves international humanitarian laws, one of my greatest passions,” she said.

Her great interest in debating led to her successful participation in two MUN conferences: Saint Petersburg Model United Nations (SPIMUN) and Galati Model United Nations (GALMUN). In addition to that, she was one of the three female finalists for the position of the official UN Youth Delegate, as part of Romania’s delegation.

Even though the outcome turned out to be impressive, Madalina’s first contact with an international MUN could be described as an unsettling experience: “I can still remember the delegates’ vivid expressions and their devotion to their work.” Additionally, it was the atmosphere in the conference rooms that made the biggest impression on her: “It was like a fever, everyone there was caught in the tournament of ideas and arguments,” Madalina uttered in a melancholic tone.

If we were to describe the event in three words, from Madalina’s point of view that would be: exhilarating, overwhelming and frustrating. Exhilarating? Possibly. Overwhelming? Definitely. But why frustrating? “I experienced a bit of frustrations because everyone was so good!” she exclaimed. “One of the most challenging parts was the fact that I had to learn how to compromise in a way that I could still stick to my own ideas.”

The two positions that she now occupies –Secretary General and Human Rights Co-chair –  have had a great influence on her, shaping her perception of  the world,  her ideas and her  way of thinking. “Besides the responsibility that I had, it was more of a life lesson, in the sense that I had the opportunity to see how I can manage my own feelings and stress, how I can communicate with the rest of the team,” she explained.

Even though Madalina occupies two of the highest positions in the MUN hierarchy, she didn’t let her privileged status go to her head. “The qualities required by a chairperson are professionalism, a good command of English, good debating skills and dedication to the project. Some previous experience in this type of events would be very welcome, too,” Madalina added with a broad smile.

Apart from her great involvement in the MUN Conference, Madalina is also member of the “Save the Children” organization. “Being part of this volunteering group was a milestone in my development and probably the root of my interest in Human Rights,” Madalina said. “I can see the relevance and meaning of such activities in society, and also in one’s life. IASIMUN is also a good example of volunteer service.”

The Secretary General’s expectations in terms of achievements do not concern only her personal progress but also the one of the delegates. “In terms of academic achievements, I am positive that they will become more fluent in English, by practicing key skills and more knowledgeable in general, by researching their topics and understanding convoluted aspects of international politics, economics and law,” Madalina stated in her usual formal manner.

However, it is one of MUN’s objectives to contribute to the development of the individuals more on the long term than on the short one.
Additionally, she genuinely expects them to be outsmarted by the system as she once was. “I hope that they will gain as much as I gained from my MUN experiences and that one day they will want so badly to do a MUN, that they will be willing to sacrifice their time and effort and see it not as a sacrifice, but the only thing that could reveal itself as fulfilling.”

So, keep in mind this precious piece of advice: “Be courageous! Take the word, speak up and enjoy MUN!”

Written by: Ioana Gabriela Gorgoi
Photos: Dobos Otila, Andreea Oltean