Six students from the Political Science Department attended the United Nations conference in New York to present their research papers on indigenous issues from April 24-28.
Christina Akanoa, BYU-Hawaii adjunct faculty and internship coordinator of the Political Science Department, said the conference is a big stepping-stone for career and networking. “Students get to meet the ambassadors and see how the international arena works,” she said. “They also have the chance to ask questions like the current status of U.N., steps to become an ambassador, get inspiration from them, and most importantly: gather internship opportunities.
“This is our fourth year to join the United Nations conference. It opens up opportunities for students. After our U.N. trips for the past three years, most of the students ended up going home to their countries and working for foreign affairs, and some went back to U.N. for internships.”
Akanoa said she normally takes Pacific Island students. “We visit with the permanent mission of the Pacific Island states to the U.N. Students get to talk about their research papers and get information to complete them.”
Charlie Hola, a senior from Tonga majoring in political science, said he had a really good experience. “Through attending the forums, I got the chance to experience first hand what I learn in school and what they actually do in U.N. It was a different feeling to be there and be called ‘observed members,’” he said.
Hola said his experience at the conference will help him make better decisions because he learned how things are done. “My dream career is to be a politician. The opportunity to be in the U.N. and see the things they do there helped me envision my future career. When I become part of the politics in Tonga, I have a fair idea of what is going on in the U.N.”
Hola said he felt the passion of the ambassadors about what they do and the efforts they put on their careers that led them to where they are now. “It is important for students to know there is no limit to what you can do. The U.N. conference was an eye-opener for me. I realized that anyone is capable to become a diplomat or an ambassador. Dream big and work towards it.”
Sukannika Qaqa, a political science senior from Fiji, said her vision about U.N. changed drastically through the conference. “I was able to see how the U.N. functions in an international platform, and I feel like it is similar to the structure of the church but based more on secular things.”
Qaqa added, “Going to the U.N. conference made me realize that you can be anything and anyone you want to be. If you have a vision and motivation, you can push through everything. The sky is the limit. If they can do it, why not you?”
Jimmy Tupua, a junior majoring in political science from Fiji, said his vision of the U.N. was enlarged through the discussions in the conference. “The trip taught me the importance of networking, cultures, and nations. People work together to get stuff done and that is the purpose of the U.N. conference–to solve international issues with the help of networking.
Meeting the ambassadors from the Pacific was the highlight of the trip, said Tupua. “I enjoyed sharing my research topic, and I got insights and advice. I also had the chance to talk to the ambassador of Micronesia in her language.
“Being chosen for this trip is a blessing. I never thought I would ever step foot in New York City, attend the U.N. conference, and meet the ambassadors from the Pacific. It gave me a chance to see the world in a bigger scope, and I saw how it works in the international arena,” Tupua added.
Writer: Antoniette Yee