Three Takoma Academy Students Attend THIMUN in the Netherlands

Story by Shaun Robinson

Three of Takoma Academy’s (TA) brightest students recently traveled to the Netherlands to attend the annual The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) event. Each year, staff members vote from a list of student finalists selected by the school’s liaison and English teacher, Whitney Mack. The competition was so close this year that a special request was made for one additional MUN representative. The Columbia Union Conference granted the request, resulting in a total of three TA scholars being allowed to participate in this year’s convention. THIMUN hosted more than 3,000 young people from more than 100 different countries.

“My experience at the THIMUN conference was an overall motivational adventure!” says Paula Lewis (’27). “While debating during the conference sessions, I was able to see how confidence draws people in, how it fosters trust and respect. When I trusted in God, stepped out of my comfort zone and spoke to others, even if it was a brief ‘Hi’ and a smile to the girl sitting behind me, I was able to see how genuine relationships can form, even with people who live all the way on the other side of the world!”

Maegan Whitlock (’27) considers it a privilege to have been chosen as a participant: “The THIMUN trip has allowed me to expand my worldview as well as change how I view leadership. I was able to meet and talk with people from five different continents. I realized that everyone in a population is going to have their own ideas and belief systems, and it can be extremely difficult to balance those differences as a leader. It is my hope that the lessons I have learned on this trip will help me to become a better leader in the future.”