Short note: Introductions and Goodbyes

I’m a little embarrassed posting this, I won’t lie, more so because a lot of the people I’m indirectly referencing in this post are on my Facebook friends list. But I need a place to gush and I think my friends are sick and tired of me at this point, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:

Northeastern, in its infinite majesty, hosts a bunch of Model something-or-the-other conferences, including the North East Regional Model Arab League conference. I like Model conferences. I like them a lot. I like them so much that in tenth grade, I stole ModelUN posters from the various display boards in my high school. I hadn’t even done a conference yet. That’s how much I like Model conferences.

…the point is, I was beyond excited to take part in my first Model Arab League conference. Even if it was mandatory, I felt accomplished going into it. I didn’t really think about all the different people I’d get to meet: I had one goal in mind, and that was to not make an idiot of myself.

I’d like to think I succeeded in that endeavor – certainly, an honorable mention in the awards ceremony is testament to that – but I think something far more important happened over the weekend: I made friends, role models, met people who made this more than just an interesting competition. It turned into an experience, the kind that has to be italicized to emphasize its point. I ended up looking forward to my committee sessions, despite perpetual exhaustion, simply because I wanted to exchange ideas, pass half-serious notes, and glare in camaraderie with the friends I made. More than anything else, I feel like I’ve found role models and maybe that’s a hasty thing to say given it’s only been a couple of days, but I’m an impressionable person. I go with my gut and my gut, in this case, said, “Wow. You’ve got a lot to learn from these people. Don’t mess this up.”

I’d like to think I didn’t mess it up, and I probably didn’t, but my proneness to hero-worship makes it so I’m constantly checking myself, running through a mental list to ensure my “persona” (which, really, I’m too lazy to have) appears likable. When I find people I like, I don’t just leave it at that; I find myself pinpointing what it is about them that attracts me, how they differ from others, noticing little things about them that make me gush harder and harder. People are so immensely wonderful in general, and meeting so many great people in such little time is almost exhilarating for me. Certainly, it encourages me to want to challenge myself and become a better individual – kinder, more open, and intelligent.

I’m hoping I didn’t give off psychotic-short-girl-vibes and maintained some semblance of cool, but regardless, I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to meet such incredible, intelligent, wonderful individuals. NERMAL was an amazing experience and I’m already rearing to go for another conference. Even if my vocal cords are threatening to give out after overuse.