Ferrahian Students Win Awards in Model United Nations Competition in South
By Nairi Gabri
The Ferrahian trip to South Korea was a truly impactful experience. Fifteen students, ranging from grades 10 to 12, and three chaperones—Sose Kurdian, Seza Kurdian, and Principal Sossi Shanlian— from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian High School traveled from Encino, California to Seoul, South Korea from November 23 to December 1 to attend the Yale International Model United Nations (Model UN) conference. The conference lasted three days, from November 28 to November 30.
As Model UN delegates, we are assigned to committees, and within those committees we represent a country or a character. No matter what type of committee we are in, one thing stays the same– we learn to practice diplomacy, collaboration, public speaking, and problem solving skills in real time.
From hour-long car rides at 7 a.m.—all of which were spent napping—to fleshed out, intense debates during committee sessions, our Ferrahian students had a lot to tackle. However, with each challenge comes an opportunity to adapt and pursue growth, and I believe this experience reshaped all of us. We worked very hard to keep up with the chaos and fun of trying something new. We are especially proud of our school’s award winners– Artur Pogosov (12th grade) and Milan Samarghachian (11th grade). Artur, who was in the Global Climate Crisis committee, won the award for Best Position Paper—an award given to those with the best written paper in their committee. Milan, who was in the United Nations Human Rights Council, won an Honorable Mention for her performance as a delegate during committee sessions.
During the four days prior to the conference, we were busy sightseeing and adventuring. The novel sense of safety mixed with metropolitan familiarity was an especially charming aspect of the big cities in Korea. When we weren’t exploring hair salons or navigating through the crowds of the night markets, we were visiting quiet villages with traditional architecture and grand historical sites, such as the Bukchon Hanok Village and Changdeokgung Palace. I really enjoyed how our main mode of transportation was walking— unlike in L.A., where everything is farther apart, Korea’s city streets are dense; they are filled with shops, stores, and markets wherever you look, so it’s easy to walk everywhere.
My biggest highlight, however, has to be the friendships that developed during this trip. I really enjoyed spending my time with the other Ferrahian students, especially those with whom I normally wouldn’t get a chance to interact. On top of that, everyone in my committee felt like we formed a small family. I’ve created unforgettable bonds with so many people from diverse countries through Yale Model UN Korea, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity. That’s what this trip was all about— experiencing what it means to be part of a global community.
Nairi Gabri is a sophomore at Ferrahian High School
