by Ayyan Ali
Over the past weekend, AMSI students went to the American University in Dubai to participate in the Harvard Model Congress. Harvard Model Congress (HMC) is an American government simulation for high school students developed and led by Harvard University students.
The conference lasted for three days, and during this time, students took on the personas of political leaders. Students performed as Senators, members of the House of Representatives, Supreme Court justices, and other special program government officials. This conference gave AMSI students an eye-opening opportunity to see how the United States government functions, which may inspire our very own students to pursue a career in government.
Apart from writing bills and voting on legislation, the students had time to explore the city of Dubai. Many students went to visit tourist destinations such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Museum, and Jumeirah Beach Residence. This Harvard Model Congress Dubai excursion was a major success for AMSI. Several students are anticipating returning next year and learning even more.
The biggest takeaway AMSI students had from this experience is learning much more about the US political system. They read through materials and wrote speeches under the guidance of the teachers. The training sessions were extremely useful to the students, teaching them how to improve on both their content and speaking skills. The takeaways from these sessions really helped them during HMC discussions, where both the structural integrity of their ideas and their speaking ability were put to the test.
I think that the HMC has really broadened my world view and exposed me to new ideas. Lessons I’ve learnt from this experience will certainly benefit me in the future. With an increased knowledge of global affairs and politics, I will be able to keep up-to-date with the news and remain in touch with the rest of the world. The public speaking skills I’ve gained from this experience will give me the confidence and ability to persuasively put forth my ideas in the future.
In conclusion, HMCD has been so far one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I entered the conference as a normal person and left it as a better one.