“MUN has changed my life”

I can’t help but start by saying how much I miss my Bogazici MUN fam! They mean the world to me. I recently caught up with Anil, who spent nine amazing years in the MUN scene before hanging up his hat. Now, he’s diving into molecular biology and genetics at Bogazici University. It’s wild to think there’s life after MUN, but new adventures are always waiting!

Anil started his MUN journey in high school because he loved debating and meeting new people. “I saw others having fun and thought, ‘Why not give it a try? What do I have to lose?’” he said, looking back on how it all started.

But his first experience wasn’t a walk in the park. “I didn’t really understand anything,” he admitted. His advice for first-timers?

He stressed that crisis committees are a whole different vibe. “It’s not just historical simulations; you have to write a directive that tackles all aspects of the issue. It needs to drive action, not just offer suggestions.”

With a long MUN resume, Anil has been both a delegate and a chair, but he loves being an Under-Secretary-General the most. “Creating different committees for delegates is my jam,” he explained. He believes a chair should always be active: “If your feet aren’t hurting, you’re doing it wrong! A good chair needs to stay engaged with the committee.”

When I asked if he’d ever consider starting a Turkish committee at Bogazici MUN, he was quick to say no. “It has to be in English; at least one of the UN’s official languages should be used,” he said. “Speaking English is professional and inclusive. If you’re in university, you should be prepared to communicate in English.”

As the former Secretary-General of the Bogazici MUN Society, Anil found the role pretty manageable, thanks to his connections in the Istanbul MUN community. “Building a team of qualified people was key. The toughest part was probably dealing with the school and the advisors,” he noted.

He added that while the academic side of MUN is crucial, he prefers focusing on good organization and experienced individuals, pointing out the differences between MUN cultures in Istanbul and Ankara.

Having chaired many conferences, Anil has some solid tips for future chairs. “Every committee has unique needs, so you need to create the right vibe,” he advised. He recalled misjudging a topic that didn’t fit well with MUN and said, “It ended up being a tough experience for everyone. I think about that committee a lot, and I wish I had prepared better.” He also stressed having a clear plan and preparing solutions before the conference.

On a fun note, when I asked about his favorite MUN meme, he laughed and said, “Most of the best ones aren’t from the committees. One of my favorites is,

Looking back, Anil shared how MUN has helped his career. “Being able to talk to so many people has helped me a ton. In university, everything is about presentations. In my job now, I engage with clients and meet their needs. Organizing conferences as a president or board member gave me leadership skills that university doesn’t teach.”

Anil’s MUN journey has been super rewarding. Even though he’s not active in the community anymore, the skills and connections he made will definitely help him in the future. I really enjoyed our chat, and it reminded me how much I cherish my Bogazici MUN crew!