'I’d really like to be UN Secretary General or maybe Prime Minister,' says Athina, 14s student and passionate Model United Nations (LIMUN) club member, matter of factly, ‘I admit it’s quite unlikely but I can try can’t I?’
It would be unwise to underestimate how just how far the talents of this articulate and ambitious 15 year old will take her in the next few years. Three months ago, Athina’s outstanding performance representing Iceland at LIMUN’s Cop 27 conference for schools earned her the title of Outstanding Delegate for the event and the organisation’s David Page Scholarship.
I’m a serious person and LIMUN asks you to get to grips with the world’s serious problems
Athina, 14s Student and MUN Scholarship winner
This in turn led to an invitation to compete alongside graduates and post-graduate delegates at LIMUN’s University Conference at the end of February, representing Brazil. ‘Stepping up a level was quite different to the schools event,’ says Athina. ‘The other delegates were asking me what university I was from and were quite surprised to discover I was 14.’
Athina joined Harrodian’s Model United Nations club last year and took to it like a duck to water. ‘I’m a serious person and LIMUN asks you to get to grips with the world’s serious problems,’ she says, ‘It asks you to think through real-life issues which we know really do need to be tackled: the climate, natural disasters, sexism, for example and to make huge decisions on them.’
Model United Nations asks you to think through real-life issues which really do need to be tackled: the climate, natural disasters, sexism, for example and to make huge decisions on them.
So what qualities are essential to be a successful international negotiator in the Model and the Real world? ‘I’ve learnt how important it is to be able to put yourself in other people’s shoes. And I'm persuasive,’ she says. 'When I believe in something, I’m down people’s throats! I’m really going to fight for it.’
Harrodian MUN Club is at the London School of Economics MUN Conference next weekend and would like to hear from students in the 13s and above who would like to take part (Please contact Ms Arnold). The club is open to Harrodians from Year 13 up and takes place on Friday lunchtimes.