And the Winner is.....

The last of conference! So much to be glad about and so much to worry about at the same time. This is the day everyone who wants an award makes a strong push to obtain it. I woke up off my game after a long night of talking to people back home on FB chat and Skype. Going into committee it felt as if I was doing this for the first time again and didn't know how to handle the other people pushing. I proposed the topic of  peaceful use of outer space. Of course the entire committee knowing that I was ahead in winning the award, promptly sided with the delegate of the USA who was playing catch up after I began to check out after day 4. I saw this as an attack and began to harshly question and pick up my speeches.

We ended up coming to a final conclusion about our last topic. I even went along with another do nothing say nothing act like it never happen. With me checking out and strictly looking for debate from the room, I fell out of my role of task master and into the role of social Joe. I spent the last day talking to my chair and co-chair as the rest of the committee continued to work. Was this the American cockiness kicking in or Joe simply not being able to close out deals ala Lebron James.

Our chair was in his last MUN and we decided as a group to get him a cake. It was nice and a good way to end a stressful week. He appreciated it greatly and we all became a pseudo-family. We broke for lunch and prepared for closing ceremonies. Another LONG and boring ceremony was on hand, but on the plus side awards were being given out.

Down the list they went, UML picking up 5 awards thus far only 1 school ahead of us and 3 awards remained. The school ahead of us was Lahor University of Management Science, a school known for winning MUNs in the area. They were at 7 awards, but these last 3 committees we had confidence we could win awards in. First of the last awards were called off UML wins outstanding, while another school not Lahor wins best delegate. The tally is now 6 to 7. The second award came and we were shocked, one of our best delegates doesn't win an award. Lahor ended up picking another award putting them at 8 with only 1 left. It was impossible for us to catch up on awards as a delegation but I still had my chance at winning an award. My chair approached the stage and gave his speech. He mentions the three countries in the running for the award; USA, Uganda, South Korea. The other two were Lahor students, but to make matters worse and more nerve racking, those two happen to be their best delegate. USA is considered a rock star in the MUN community, having won awards at some of the top conferences. Uganda was high regarded as well and then there was this unknown UML kid playing the role of South Korea. He continued on and then the announcement came..."And the Best Delegate of the Future Security Council is...The Delegate Representing the Republic of Korea". I had my head down and heard the announcement, I began to Tiger Woods fist pump and sigh with relief. I did it, I won a very competitive award vs two of the most known and respected MUNers at this conference. As I made my way up the stage, I made sure to shake hands and hug the other two delegates. Anyone of us could have won that award and I wanted to show that respect for them. I was happy nonetheless and as I was on the stage I looked over at my team and pointed at them.

Differences may occur in our team and between people but when it comes down to it, they are a second family to me. We bicker, argue, and fight like a family but in the end we make up and get along like a family. The dynamics of this group compared to last year is almost night and day. While we didn't win the best delegation award or the number of individual awards we expected, We can as a family now walk away with our heads held high. We went into an area where 90% of the delegates spoke Turkish and broken English. Overcame the typical stereotype of being loud and stupid Americans, being made fun of, and generally disrespected to a team that is now known in the International MUN community as a strong and talented University. I am proud of everyone in our delegation. We worked, cried, and fought together til the bitter end. We won a handful of awards but in the end we won the respect of the MUNTR staff and the respect of a lot of schools around the world. With all that being said, UML MUN team of 2011, let's keep our heads up and walk like proud Americans throughout the rest of this trip. Go back home and be proud to know that you did one of the best jobs ever done in an international MUN for our school. And remember we are a family, we will always have each others back when it comes down to it. To quote one of my favorite movies, "Stand tall, Fly straight, USA UML all the way"