[Source: kacla.org]
With the winter holidays slowly coming to an end and students drifting back into busy schedules they will soon be drenched in extracurricular activities. These activities, which will include anything from daily violin lessons to five-hour soccer practices after school, are endless. However, today I will not be talking about my musical interests or my passion for sports. I will be sharing my opinion on a less prominent but far more beneficial activity, Model United Nations.
The Korean American Coalition of Los Angeles, or KAC, began its MUN program to provide an opportunity for students in the Los Angeles district to have access to a community based club. Since then, KAC MUN has expanded through participation in leadership programs and International Model United Nations Conferences.
I started KAC in my sophomore year, and looking back, I can see how much I was able to grow and enhance my debating, public speaking, and researching skills in a short period of time. I became more confident during class discussions and overcame my fear of public speaking after representing KAC MUN at Berkeley’s 66th annual conference. KAC MUN provided a professional platform to interact with peers who found interest in the discussion of social issues and world crises.
Through interaction, KAC MUN taught me to be open minded to the opinions of my peers and delegates on controversial topics. These skills helped me to understand how the United Nations operates and the processes that occur during each conference. All in all, despite these numerous benefits, leadership is the reason why KAC MUN stands out above all extracurricular activities.
Program advisors and coordinators such as Mr. Joon Bang and Mr. Adam Chong train students to be future Korean American leaders who will stand up for and represent their communities with their voice. For example, last year they implemented a workshop for students to create videos that would serve as guides for the elderly in Koreatown. These videos helped break down language barriers that would prevent elderly immigrants from receiving tenant rights.
Overall, KAC MUN is an amazing program that surpasses the benefits of other extracurricular activities. The official KAC MUN program continues to run until May 2019. More information and applications can be found online at kacla.org.
Caroline Kim, Grade 11
Crescenta Valley High School
