November of 2017 hid another exciting prospect. MEDI MUN – a simulation of the United Nations for teens aged 15-19, where students represent assigned UN countries was one of my next destinations. Months prior, I researched Hungary’s policies to draft and debate resolutions on global issues, including the then-emerging issue of how the distribution of Syrian refugees would be made and how aid would be provided to them. This fostered diverse and in-depth discussions, where I had to act as an ambassador for Hungary.

A major part of the preparations included lobbying, as finding allies was crucial when passing your own agenda. This served as a learning experience for me as it was my first time being exposed to networking, learning how to negotiate, and traverse through tough terrains with adversaries. It was also an introduction to me in terms of public speaking, as standing on the podium to present my case was the main event, and being put on the spot with harsh questions and counter-arguments required a lot of quick wit combined with preparation.