I would like everyone to think back to a moment where the boundaries of your
moment where the boundaries of your
moment where the boundaries of your known world expanded forever a moment of
known world expanded forever a moment of
known world expanded forever a moment of total transformation fireworks sparkling
total transformation fireworks sparkling
total transformation fireworks sparkling in your mind because of a newfound
in your mind because of a newfound
in your mind because of a newfound understanding or realization for me that
understanding or realization for me that
understanding or realization for me that moment was an I found my tribe
moment was an I found my tribe
moment was an I found my tribe like-minded people who valued the same
like-minded people who valued the same
like-minded people who valued the same ideas as I do but before we get into
ideas as I do but before we get into
ideas as I do but before we get into that let’s teleport a decade back in
that let’s teleport a decade back in
that let’s teleport a decade back in time
time
time the 2007 the year the first iPhone was
the 2007 the year the first iPhone was
the 2007 the year the first iPhone was revealed the final Harry Potter
revealed the final Harry Potter
revealed the final Harry Potter installment was released and the
installment was released and the
installment was released and the BlackBerry was still cool my friends and
BlackBerry was still cool my friends and
BlackBerry was still cool my friends and I huddled in a circle eyes glued to the
I huddled in a circle eyes glued to the
I huddled in a circle eyes glued to the growing deck of cards in front of us it
growing deck of cards in front of us it
growing deck of cards in front of us it was a chilly winter night in the suburbs
was a chilly winter night in the suburbs
was a chilly winter night in the suburbs of Sydney three cars left in my hand
of Sydney three cars left in my hand
of Sydney three cars left in my hand then two and then one last one what
then two and then one last one what
then two and then one last one what define my 2007 was a thin piece of black
define my 2007 was a thin piece of black
define my 2007 was a thin piece of black cardboard distinguishable by its
cardboard distinguishable by its
cardboard distinguishable by its distinct curved black edges and four
distinct curved black edges and four
distinct curved black edges and four iconic colors in the centre what define
iconic colors in the centre what define
iconic colors in the centre what define my 2007 was the site of a pickup for
my 2007 was the site of a pickup for
my 2007 was the site of a pickup for card moments away from uno victory my
card moments away from uno victory my
card moments away from uno victory my five-year-old self could not imagine
five-year-old self could not imagine
five-year-old self could not imagine anything worse I honestly remember
anything worse I honestly remember
anything worse I honestly remember feeling like I’d hit rock bottom but of
feeling like I’d hit rock bottom but of
feeling like I’d hit rock bottom but of course in hindsight looking back losing
course in hindsight looking back losing
course in hindsight looking back losing a card game
a card game
a card game doesn’t compare to the daily struggles
doesn’t compare to the daily struggles
doesn’t compare to the daily struggles many of you face let alone the millions
many of you face let alone the millions
many of you face let alone the millions who are entrapped in a bleak landscape
who are entrapped in a bleak landscape
who are entrapped in a bleak landscape of war and poverty but being a typical
of war and poverty but being a typical
of war and poverty but being a typical kid blinded from reality my primary
kid blinded from reality my primary
kid blinded from reality my primary source of turmoil has always been from
source of turmoil has always been from
source of turmoil has always been from card games or no play night that is
card games or no play night that is
card games or no play night that is until a couple of years ago when my
until a couple of years ago when my
until a couple of years ago when my outlook on the world transformed and
outlook on the world transformed and
outlook on the world transformed and it’s all thank to the opportunity of a
it’s all thank to the opportunity of a
it’s all thank to the opportunity of a lifetime
lifetime
lifetime tackling the world issues that plague
tackling the world issues that plague
tackling the world issues that plague our society
our society
you can probably guess what’s coming
you can probably guess what’s coming next perhaps I’ll be proposing some
next perhaps I’ll be proposing some
next perhaps I’ll be proposing some radical solution to end world hunger or
radical solution to end world hunger or
radical solution to end world hunger or a three step guide to solving the
a three step guide to solving the
a three step guide to solving the divisions that brew violence or better
divisions that brew violence or better
divisions that brew violence or better yet I’ll teach each and every one of you
yet I’ll teach each and every one of you
yet I’ll teach each and every one of you today how we can all change our
today how we can all change our
today how we can all change our lifestyle to make this world a better
lifestyle to make this world a better
lifestyle to make this world a better place
unfortunately the keys to unlocking
unfortunately the keys to unlocking these utopias are buried beyond my reach
these utopias are buried beyond my reach
these utopias are buried beyond my reach but what I do have a seeds seeds for
but what I do have a seeds seeds for
but what I do have a seeds seeds for have the immense potential of changing
have the immense potential of changing
have the immense potential of changing our global landscape seeds that when
our global landscape seeds that when
our global landscape seeds that when grown under the right conditions with
grown under the right conditions with
grown under the right conditions with care and persistence will blossom into a
care and persistence will blossom into a
care and persistence will blossom into a brighter future of globally engaged
brighter future of globally engaged
brighter future of globally engaged citizens I’m talking about Model United
citizens I’m talking about Model United
citizens I’m talking about Model United Nations at first glance mu n seemed as a
Nations at first glance mu n seemed as a
Nations at first glance mu n seemed as a pursuit only for the brightest and
pursuit only for the brightest and
pursuit only for the brightest and bolder students a prospect my thirteen
bolder students a prospect my thirteen
bolder students a prospect my thirteen year old self initially shied away from
year old self initially shied away from
year old self initially shied away from but I signed up nevertheless thinking
but I signed up nevertheless thinking
but I signed up nevertheless thinking how hard could this be
how hard could this be
how hard could this be once their reality finally set in I was
once their reality finally set in I was
once their reality finally set in I was seized by a sudden shock of panic the
seized by a sudden shock of panic the
seized by a sudden shock of panic the only thing I knew about the United
only thing I knew about the United
only thing I knew about the United Nations was that it existed so I was
Nations was that it existed so I was
Nations was that it existed so I was shocked by a blizzard of burning
shocked by a blizzard of burning
shocked by a blizzard of burning questions and one that will forever be
questions and one that will forever be
questions and one that will forever be ingrained in my memory how do a bunch of
ingrained in my memory how do a bunch of
ingrained in my memory how do a bunch of teenagers begin to solve global issues
teenagers begin to solve global issues
teenagers begin to solve global issues and to be completely honest with you
and to be completely honest with you
and to be completely honest with you answering this question has always been
answering this question has always been
answering this question has always been a challenge mu n was an experience that
a challenge mu n was an experience that
a challenge mu n was an experience that I could never quite put into words and
I could never quite put into words and
I could never quite put into words and yes whilst I can’t drag all of you to
yes whilst I can’t drag all of you to
yes whilst I can’t drag all of you to the next M UN conference hopefully with
the next M UN conference hopefully with
the next M UN conference hopefully with the help of a little imagination I can
the help of a little imagination I can
the help of a little imagination I can track the MU and experience to you just
track the MU and experience to you just
track the MU and experience to you just for a moment I like everyone to close
for a moment I like everyone to close
for a moment I like everyone to close their eyes and imagine a country a
their eyes and imagine a country a
their eyes and imagine a country a country you now belong to identify with
country you now belong to identify with
country you now belong to identify with no not as a citizen but as a head of
no not as a citizen but as a head of
no not as a citizen but as a head of state you could be the president of
state you could be the president of
state you could be the president of Zimbabwe the Prime Minister of Australia
Zimbabwe the Prime Minister of Australia
Zimbabwe the Prime Minister of Australia or even the supreme leader of the DPRK
or even the supreme leader of the DPRK
or even the supreme leader of the DPRK and now being a head of state just
and now being a head of state just
and now being a head of state just imagine the responsibilities you assume
imagine the responsibilities you assume
imagine the responsibilities you assume you are now responsible for the economy
you are now responsible for the economy
you are now responsible for the economy politics national security every aspect
politics national security every aspect
politics national security every aspect that you can fathom but above all you
that you can fathom but above all you
that you can fathom but above all you are now responsible for the millions of
are now responsible for the millions of
are now responsible for the millions of civilians counting on your every word
civilians counting on your every word
civilians counting on your every word that is the premise of Model United
that is the premise of Model United
that is the premise of Model United Nations you amongst many others become
Nations you amongst many others become
Nations you amongst many others become delegates of your respective member
delegates of your respective member
delegates of your respective member states adopting their perspectives
states adopting their perspectives
states adopting their perspectives beliefs and agendas you might not be the
beliefs and agendas you might not be the
beliefs and agendas you might not be the President or the Prime Minister but
President or the Prime Minister but
President or the Prime Minister but nevertheless the responsibility your
nevertheless the responsibility your
nevertheless the responsibility your shoulder is immense
shoulder is immense
shoulder is immense from here delegates go on a journey of
from here delegates go on a journey of
from here delegates go on a journey of discussing lobbying and negotiating to
discussing lobbying and negotiating to
discussing lobbying and negotiating to ultimately formulate a United Nations
ultimately formulate a United Nations
ultimately formulate a United Nations resolution this could tackle an issue
resolution this could tackle an issue
resolution this could tackle an issue such as climate change or cybersecurity
such as climate change or cybersecurity
such as climate change or cybersecurity or even nuclear disarmament resolute
or even nuclear disarmament resolute
or even nuclear disarmament resolute each resolution is debated and voted on
each resolution is debated and voted on
each resolution is debated and voted on in Council and that is essentially Model
in Council and that is essentially Model
in Council and that is essentially Model United Nations at its core ever since my
United Nations at its core ever since my
United Nations at its core ever since my first conference I’ve always been
first conference I’ve always been
first conference I’ve always been intrigued by the experience of M um for
intrigued by the experience of M um for
intrigued by the experience of M um for me it was life-changing and kick-started
me it was life-changing and kick-started
me it was life-changing and kick-started a greater understanding and appreciation
a greater understanding and appreciation
a greater understanding and appreciation for global citizenship and I was curious
for global citizenship and I was curious
for global citizenship and I was curious about the positive impact anyone might
about the positive impact anyone might
about the positive impact anyone might have had on others so I created an
have had on others so I created an
have had on others so I created an online survey that looked at the type of
online survey that looked at the type of
online survey that looked at the type of people who participate in mu n and the
people who participate in mu n and the
people who participate in mu n and the influence that this had to their
influence that this had to their
influence that this had to their personal development springier around
personal development springier around
personal development springier around the MU n community the survey received a
the MU n community the survey received a
the MU n community the survey received a total of a hundred and fifty five
total of a hundred and fifty five
total of a hundred and fifty five respondents and yes while such a sample
respondents and yes while such a sample
respondents and yes while such a sample size can never fully and accurately
size can never fully and accurately
size can never fully and accurately represent the thousands of individuals
represent the thousands of individuals
represent the thousands of individuals who engage in MU n I made a conscious
who engage in MU n I made a conscious
who engage in MU n I made a conscious effort to represent a large range of
effort to represent a large range of
effort to represent a large range of nationalities ages and experience to
nationalities ages and experience to
nationalities ages and experience to perfectly encapsulate the MU n populace
perfectly encapsulate the MU n populace
perfectly encapsulate the MU n populace one of the area surveyed were
one of the area surveyed were
one of the area surveyed were participants aspirations as members of
participants aspirations as members of
participants aspirations as members of generations that we are the future of
generations that we are the future of
generations that we are the future of society
society
society so I was really hoping that through this
so I was really hoping that through this
so I was really hoping that through this primary research I’d be able to identify
primary research I’d be able to identify
primary research I’d be able to identify some sort of trend something I could
some sort of trend something I could
some sort of trend something I could point to and say look people who
point to and say look people who
point to and say look people who participate within mu n have a strong
participate within mu n have a strong
participate within mu n have a strong correlation with
correlation with
correlation with respectable profession or people who
respectable profession or people who
respectable profession or people who participate in mu n aspire to be leaders
participate in mu n aspire to be leaders
participate in mu n aspire to be leaders or decision-makers deep down my whole
or decision-makers deep down my whole
or decision-makers deep down my whole thesis hinged on this one question and
thesis hinged on this one question and
thesis hinged on this one question and would hopefully prove to all of you
would hopefully prove to all of you
would hopefully prove to all of you today that in the next few decades you
today that in the next few decades you
today that in the next few decades you will see a new era of inspirers thinkers
will see a new era of inspirers thinkers
will see a new era of inspirers thinkers and doers
and doers
and doers well after hours of painstakingly
well after hours of painstakingly
well after hours of painstakingly scouring through all the responses this
scouring through all the responses this
scouring through all the responses this sums up the most popular response not
sums up the most popular response not
sums up the most popular response not only was I heartbroken to unravel the
only was I heartbroken to unravel the
only was I heartbroken to unravel the majority were undecided I was tempted to
majority were undecided I was tempted to
majority were undecided I was tempted to try out the data altogether but then I
try out the data altogether but then I
try out the data altogether but then I thought about it from another
thought about it from another
thought about it from another perspective
perspective
perspective and I realized that this percentage
and I realized that this percentage
and I realized that this percentage really speaks volumes about mu n
really speaks volumes about mu n
really speaks volumes about mu n contrary to the persona mu n may portray
contrary to the persona mu n may portray
contrary to the persona mu n may portray this pursuit isn’t just for those who
this pursuit isn’t just for those who
this pursuit isn’t just for those who aspire to be politicians lobbyists or
aspire to be politicians lobbyists or
aspire to be politicians lobbyists or public speakers regardless of whether
public speakers regardless of whether
public speakers regardless of whether you want to be a scientist an engineer a
you want to be a scientist an engineer a
you want to be a scientist an engineer a teacher a barrister or any one of a
teacher a barrister or any one of a
teacher a barrister or any one of a hundred and forty-six other professions
hundred and forty-six other professions
hundred and forty-six other professions mu n instills logical reasoning social
mu n instills logical reasoning social
mu n instills logical reasoning social skills and creativity among many other
skills and creativity among many other
skills and creativity among many other qualities through a holistic education
qualities through a holistic education
qualities through a holistic education experience you don’t need to know what
experience you don’t need to know what
experience you don’t need to know what you want to be when you grow up frankly
you want to be when you grow up frankly
you want to be when you grow up frankly I don’t either
I don’t either
I don’t either what M Yuen provides is an opportunity
what M Yuen provides is an opportunity
what M Yuen provides is an opportunity of discovering excitement interest and
of discovering excitement interest and
of discovering excitement interest and passion the next area surveyed were
passion the next area surveyed were
passion the next area surveyed were levels of confidence logic and
levels of confidence logic and
levels of confidence logic and creativity respondents would simply
creativity respondents would simply
creativity respondents would simply select a number between one to five that
select a number between one to five that
select a number between one to five that best reflected these three facets
best reflected these three facets
best reflected these three facets before beginning mu N and now what Phi
before beginning mu N and now what Phi
before beginning mu N and now what Phi was the highest and one was lowest and
was the highest and one was lowest and
was the highest and one was lowest and the results gathered blew me away in
the results gathered blew me away in
the results gathered blew me away in almost every single response there was a
almost every single response there was a
almost every single response there was a clear improvement in all three facets
clear improvement in all three facets
clear improvement in all three facets let’s take a let’s take confidence for
let’s take a let’s take confidence for
let’s take a let’s take confidence for instance this represents the confidence
instance this represents the confidence
instance this represents the confidence levels of people before beginning mu n
levels of people before beginning mu n
levels of people before beginning mu n there’s a wide range represented but the
there’s a wide range represented but the
there’s a wide range represented but the majority lingers around two or three
majority lingers around two or three
majority lingers around two or three what was most astonishing though was
what was most astonishing though was
what was most astonishing though was this
of the 70 respondents who best
of the 70 respondents who best identified levels one to two only eight
identified levels one to two only eight
identified levels one to two only eight of them chose level two to describe
of them chose level two to describe
of them chose level two to describe their current state and no one selected
their current state and no one selected
their current state and no one selected level one and of course there are plenty
level one and of course there are plenty
level one and of course there are plenty of external variables that could improve
of external variables that could improve
of external variables that could improve confidence over any period of time but
confidence over any period of time but
confidence over any period of time but the truth stands that an experience such
the truth stands that an experience such
the truth stands that an experience such as mu n can cause the transformation
as mu n can cause the transformation
as mu n can cause the transformation from what we saw before to one where
from what we saw before to one where
from what we saw before to one where well one where over 80% of people chose
well one where over 80% of people chose
well one where over 80% of people chose there was four or five and it’s a
there was four or five and it’s a
there was four or five and it’s a similar story for both logic and
similar story for both logic and
similar story for both logic and creativity with a significant shift from
creativity with a significant shift from
creativity with a significant shift from a level one two three majority to level
a level one two three majority to level
a level one two three majority to level four to five majority but of course
four to five majority but of course
four to five majority but of course these aspects of human development are
these aspects of human development are
these aspects of human development are difficult to accurately quantify so
difficult to accurately quantify so
difficult to accurately quantify so respondents were given the freedom to
respondents were given the freedom to
respondents were given the freedom to describe themselves qualitatively what
describe themselves qualitatively what
describe themselves qualitatively what they were like before beginning mu N and
they were like before beginning mu N and
they were like before beginning mu N and now and I have to say if all the
now and I have to say if all the
now and I have to say if all the questions in the survey this one struck
questions in the survey this one struck
questions in the survey this one struck with me the most these descriptions
with me the most these descriptions
with me the most these descriptions transcended any numerical data that
transcended any numerical data that
transcended any numerical data that could be used to represent personal
could be used to represent personal
could be used to represent personal development and truly epitomized the
development and truly epitomized the
development and truly epitomized the diversity of people who engaged in mu n
diversity of people who engaged in mu n
diversity of people who engaged in mu n before beginning mu n there were
before beginning mu n there were
before beginning mu n there were descriptions ranging from eager to shy
descriptions ranging from eager to shy
descriptions ranging from eager to shy some who are naive and others
some who are naive and others
some who are naive and others opinionated people who are determined
opinionated people who are determined
opinionated people who are determined yet frightened but when describing
yet frightened but when describing
yet frightened but when describing themselves currently having such an
themselves currently having such an
themselves currently having such an experience under their belt the main
experience under their belt the main
experience under their belt the main themes that resonated were awareness
themes that resonated were awareness
themes that resonated were awareness open-mindedness and passion finally two
open-mindedness and passion finally two
open-mindedness and passion finally two years or no questions were posed one of
years or no questions were posed one of
years or no questions were posed one of which was do you identify as a global
which was do you identify as a global
which was do you identify as a global citizen and in reply was this staggering
citizen and in reply was this staggering
citizen and in reply was this staggering response now there are many
response now there are many
response now there are many interpretations of what it means to be a
interpretations of what it means to be a
interpretations of what it means to be a global citizen and what this encompasses
global citizen and what this encompasses
global citizen and what this encompasses but regardless of who you are one thing
but regardless of who you are one thing
but regardless of who you are one thing should be universal and that is a
should be universal and that is a
should be universal and that is a personal interest in our world
personal interest in our world
personal interest in our world to our credit humanity has certainly
to our credit humanity has certainly
to our credit humanity has certainly progressed more and more people are
progressed more and more people are
progressed more and more people are aware of what’s going on in the world
aware of what’s going on in the world
aware of what’s going on in the world more people are taking action to make
more people are taking action to make
more people are taking action to make this world a better place more people
this world a better place more people
this world a better place more people care and I have to say I think that’s
care and I have to say I think that’s
care and I have to say I think that’s the fundamental principle to global
the fundamental principle to global
the fundamental principle to global citizenship caring for society because
citizenship caring for society because
citizenship caring for society because often the people we are battling and not
often the people we are battling and not
often the people we are battling and not those whom we share differences with
those whom we share differences with
those whom we share differences with they provide new perspectives question
they provide new perspectives question
they provide new perspectives question our motives and help us work towards a
our motives and help us work towards a
our motives and help us work towards a brighter future
brighter future
brighter future the one thing that presents the most
the one thing that presents the most
the one thing that presents the most friction to progress is apathy and I’m
friction to progress is apathy and I’m
friction to progress is apathy and I’m very optimistic that if at all such as
very optimistic that if at all such as
very optimistic that if at all such as mu n can ensure nine out of ten members
mu n can ensure nine out of ten members
mu n can ensure nine out of ten members of our youth care about the world we
of our youth care about the world we
of our youth care about the world we have a bright future ahead of us often
have a bright future ahead of us often
have a bright future ahead of us often often I hear people say that mu n isn’t
often I hear people say that mu n isn’t
often I hear people say that mu n isn’t for everyone people say things like I’m
for everyone people say things like I’m
for everyone people say things like I’m not a good public speaker I shake and I
not a good public speaker I shake and I
not a good public speaker I shake and I stutter I don’t know anything about
stutter I don’t know anything about
stutter I don’t know anything about global affairs and alone how to solve
global affairs and alone how to solve
global affairs and alone how to solve them I’m not creative or logical I can’t
them I’m not creative or logical I can’t
them I’m not creative or logical I can’t do this earlier I describe myself as a
do this earlier I describe myself as a
do this earlier I describe myself as a young naive boy who couldn’t begin to
young naive boy who couldn’t begin to
young naive boy who couldn’t begin to fathom the crises that our world faces
fathom the crises that our world faces
fathom the crises that our world faces today
today
today I stand as a global citizen who cannot
I stand as a global citizen who cannot
I stand as a global citizen who cannot begin to fathom the boundless potential
begin to fathom the boundless potential
begin to fathom the boundless potential our future holds you other voice of
our future holds you other voice of
our future holds you other voice of tomorrow but why wait till then let’s be
tomorrow but why wait till then let’s be
tomorrow but why wait till then let’s be the voice of today thank you
the voice of today thank you
the voice of today thank you [Applause]
”
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