Student Chiara Marrocco Chairs Harvard WorldMUN
Chiara Marrocco, an International Affairs and Entrepreneurship major from Rome, is a junior at John Cabot University. She recently acted as one of the chairs in Harvard’s World Model United Nations, held in Rome. Every year over 2,500 university students from more than 115 countries attend WorldMUN in a different location around the world. We asked Chiara about her experience.
Chiara Marrocco
How did you get involved with MUN?
I started being a delegate for MUN in high school (Liceo Linguistico Europeo). This gave me the chance to travel extensively for conferences. After graduating from high school, I started chairing the Italian MUN, currently the largest UN simulation in Europe. Last summer I was studying abroad in Madrid, where I found out about the Harvard WorldMUN. I applied, and was accepted.
How did you get selected?
The selection process occurred over the span of five months and was quite demanding. Upon applying, I had to answer a few questions and submit a paper on the war between Taiwan, China and Japan. Subsequently I had an interview with the Secretary General of the General Assembly. Finally I had to submit one more paper (on the topic of the conference) and be thoroughly prepared both on the topic and on the rules of procedure of the MUN.
The conference’s title was Future 25. What does it stand for?
It means: how can we improve the world in the next 25 years? This was a question already asked at the WorldMUN a quarter of a century ago. Since we, the participants, are the next generation of delegates, politicians, and leaders, it was up to us to now answer this question. Among the topics discussed were how to face terrorism, the effect of oil deflation on global markets, and the migrant crisis in Europe.
How was working for the Harvard WorldMUN?
At first, when I saw I had 400 delegates I thought I would never make it. However, also thanks to the support of the other chair, who was from Harvard, I succeeded. It was great in that I got to meet and work with, many bright people from all over the world. Furthermore, the conference gave us the opportunity to meet many institutional figures, such as Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Italian Minister of Constitutional Reforms and Relations Maria Elena Boschi, and Pope Francis. It was definitely bizarre to go back to normal life after an experience like this.
What do you take away from this experience?
The experience also made me appreciate Rome much more, as I saw the effect the city has on other people. When you see the faces of people who are not from here when they see the Colosseum for the first time, you realize how lucky you are to live here.
Is this something you want to pursue in the future?
I am an International Affairs major and my dream would be to work for the European Parliament. On the other hand, I love fashion. That is why I am pursuing a minor in Entrepreneurship, as it can really help me start my fashion business. You could say I’m split between the two things.
What is your impression of JCU?
I like that most professors ask you to voice and defend your opinion, something that is not always in the forefront of Italy’s educational system. I also appreciate that what we study here is both theoretical and practical, as that is something that definitely helps for your future career.
