Back then....

University of Bonn's delegation for the 2009 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference in New York.

A formidable team of highly motivated, cosmopolitan and lettered students with great preparation, tirelesss resolve, unmatched eloquence and indescribable energy. They were representatives of the governments of Brunei Darussalam and Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the 2009 NMUN conference.

They were students from various academic fields whose passsion was multilateralism, diplomacy, change and global governance. They flew the flag of the prestigious University of Bonn in far away America in a week-long 'induction' exercise on the complexities and challenges associated with keeping our world free of nukes.

I was a part of the delegation but i missed flying with them to the conference. A great conference i was told it was.

I had poured a lot of myself into the preparatory meetings, consultations and simulations but eventually i couldn't make it to New York.

My presentation on Brunei Darussalam was top-notch. It was highly commended; I got an official invitation for the conference. I had all i needed but somehow i didn't travel to America's third most populous state. I didn't have the priviledge to slog it out in diplomatic discourse with thousands of other young and great minds from all around the world at the UN headquarters in the States.

It was then like a million-dollar opportunity that slipped off my hands. I wanted to see 'God's Own Country' for the first time.

Back then i felt somewhat unhappy but shortly after, i picked up myself, leveraged on the skills i acquired from the NMUN preparation and matched on to participate in several other Model United Nations conference where i won laurels and didn't have to worry about the one New York opportunity i missed.

Even with dotting every i and crossing every t sometimes, things can still fall out of place. Indeed, the expectation of failure could also be the crucible for failure. However, the ability to pick oneself up and utilize the lessons of missed opportunities as spring board for rising to enviable heights is the hallmark of a great man or woman.

Back then, even though i missed an opportunity, i didn't allow it to rob me of my identity - a great man, a man on a mission, an embodiment of God's grace and glory.

Some thoughts to borrow from

“Thank you for your discrimination; Sooner or later, I will make you regret it”

These were the words of Liu Wei - a disabled Chinese who got to the final round of ‘China’s Got Talent’.

Liu lost his two arms at the age of 10 through an accident but did not lose his will to carry on in life. His disability did not stand in the way of reliving his passion for music.

He was rejected by many music and piano trainers for his amputation, look and lack of skills. However, Liu later trained himself how to play the piano by foot-walking the piano keys with his feet.

Today, Liu won the ‘China’s Got Talent’ competition.

Do you feel a limitation upon your opportunities based on what people call your disabilities – race, gender, colour or belief? Borrow some thoughts from Liu.

You may not need to voice it like Liu did, but you will surely need to stay strong in your resolve to work around your disabilities.

Sooner or later, you will make those who rejected you regret they ever did.

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To read more: http://english.cri.cn/6666/2010/10/11/1261s598646.htm

Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, I am on a mission.

A reminiscence of the days of attending various Model United Nation (MUNs) events across Europe saw me giggling and revelling. Great days they were.

MUNs are university or college-level simulation of the activities and agencies of the United Nation by students and young professionals from different walks of life. Hundreds of young men and women gather from various higher institutions to induct themselves into the world and psyche of leaders and global policy and decision makers.

To most students and young professionals, it is an introduction into the world of diplomacy and international relations and an eye-opener into challenges that world leaders faces in trying to manage the daunting problems of our age.

Undergraduate and graduate students from several parts of the world generally gather for a week-long, brain-tasking and energy-sapping debate on global issues. It involves several sessions of debates, lobbying and meetings which requires high-level of preparation and unmatched degree of intelligence, eloquence and articulation to succeed.

Owing to the nature of the simulation exercise, delegates cannot represent their country of origin. They have to act as the representative(s) of another country and advance positions on behalf of the country they represent.

I have had the opportunity to represent Poland, China, Sweden, Egypt, Iraq and Canada and functioned on the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) and International Atomic and Energy Agency (IAEA). I have discussed and debated biopiracy, pro-poor and economic development, peace in the Korean Peninsula, north-south development cooperation and a host of other topics that have stretched me intellectually and shaped me globally.

I have won awards at three MUNs – Best Delegate, Special Mention and Honourable Mention and received standing accolade at one. Dedicating one of my awards to my committee mates, I had said ‘We were delegations who rose to motions to present our positions and even while we saw oppositions we were still able to draft resolutions’

I think of those days of chanting honourable chair, distinguished delegates and a sense of assignment is invoked in me. I am a man on a mission and those days were part of my preparation.