By Suh Young, Mont’Kiara International School
Just as quickly as it came, THIMUN Singapore IX has suddenly come to an end. The week has flown by, with productive debate sessions, enjoyable lunch times and jokes with friends made in between, making it a truly eye-opening and exciting experience for all. However, as advantageous as it has been for many of us, the conference also results in a lethal condition: post-THIMUN Depression (PTD). PTD is a condition found in most MUN participants, who see themselves getting nostalgic and yearning for another week of MUN debates. Be it THIMUN Singapore or any other conference, once the week is over, participants are left feeling ‘depressed’ about separating from newly made friends and leaving a location that has become very familiar. Although the condition is extremely serious, one almost impossible to completely cure, the effects of PTD can be ameliorated in several ways.
Keep in Touch
Keeping in touch with new friends you’ve made during a conference is the best way to alleviate PTD. With the flourishing presence of social media, MUN-ers can easily converse with friends through Facebook, Skype and other online mediums. Thanks to technological advancements, the distance between friends is drastically reduced as well. People living in different continents can feel like next-door neighbors with constant contact online, and friendships can even be retained through non-electronic forms of communication, such as postcards or letters. Don’t let the bonds formed be broken ! With proper contact and planning, there’s always a chance to meet up with friends again in the future, perhaps even at another MUN conference.
Catch Up on Work
Unlike keeping in touch, this method of curing PTD is not quite as enjoyable. At first it might be difficult to understand why this would be a way to cure the condition, but once we get stuck into AP, IB or regular class assignments, we realize that they are effective in helping us forget the conference temporarily. The rush to hand in work missed throughout the week or finish big projects is definitely not a desirable replacement for the joy of being a part of an MUN conference, but it is one that can stop us from wallowing in sadness.
Post Up/Look at Pictures from the Conference
If you haven’t already, make a Facebook group with everyone in your committee. That way, you can all bond after the conference by posting funny Buzzfeed links or group photos. Post those massive McDonald’s or Pizza Hut lunch orders, aLnd even a picture of that flirty note sent to you by the delegate of Uganda. This way, you have a way to connect with those delegates with whom you so dearly bonded.
Go to another conference!
It’s a guarantee that every MUN conference you go to will be different. This might be seen as a bad thing for people who want to ‘relive’ every conference identically. Nonetheless, it’s also a hugely beneficial characteristic about these special events, because each time you get to encounter new experiences and find new people to befriend. With old memories in mind, have a hopeful outlook on things and get geared up for any upcoming conferences!
