When I turned 18, I moved to London to study English Language and Linguistics at the University of Westminster. I’m from a small town in Worcestershire, so moving to London was a big decision. I was originally set on studying history in Liverpool, though Music changed that. I love music in a way that’s hard to explain, especially jazz, and though Liverpool is also a great city for music, London has always had that pull due to its rich, vibrant, and dynamic music scene. That ended up dragging me away from Liverpool and on a collision course towards London. I made a last-minute decision, maybe a rash one, turned down my offer from the University of Liverpool, and applied through clearing to Westminster. Since then, people often ask me if I regret my decision, and I can honestly say I have never once regretted it.
One of my modules, Democratic Engagement in an International Context, gave me the chance to step outside linguistics. That’s where I came across the Democratic Education Network (DEN). I kept going after the module ended, and it just became one of the best parts of my week. It’s the thing I enjoy the most about university, as there are so many unique and enriching opportunities I have been able to partake in.
One of the best parts of DEN, though, is the people. The friends I’ve made, the weekly rhythm of it, and the ritual of ending up in the pub after meetings. That changed London for me. London is an amazing city, it’s fast, alive, always in motion, but it can be cold and isolating if you’re on your own. I came from a town where the population is majority British, so sitting around a table each week and sharing my thoughts with people from more countries than I have fingers has been a highlight of my experiences.
Through DEN I went to Bangkok in December last year, my first trip outside Europe, which is a trip I won’t be forgetting easily. During this trip, I participated in my first Model United Nations conference at Kasetsart University as a delegate for Pakistan. It was new, slightly overwhelming at first, but nonetheless exceptionally rewarding.
Since then, I’ve been travelling and studying at Westminster, learning from people with different backgrounds and perspectives of the world. As Anaïs Nin said, “we don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” That’s something I’ve started to notice more over time, especially in how differently people can view the same things. I still have a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to learning from the perspectives of students in Tashkent, as well as the international students at TIMUN.
So soon I will be in Uzbekistan for the Tashkent International Model United Nations conference, where I’ll be representing Saudi Arabia on the UNESCO committee. It’s my second MUN, but it’s much bigger than the first, so I don’t really know what to expect. Again, I must admit I’m a bit nervous, but that’s part of it. I’m hoping this opportunity will allow me to improve my public speaking, my confidence, and consolidate my understanding of global governance.
Outside of the conference, I’m looking forward to Uzbekistan itself, a country I know very little about. I don’t want to just experience it through the eyes of a tourist, I want to live it, the culture, the food, the architecture, the music and the language.
Finally, I want to thank the university in Tashkent for providing accommodation during our stay, and the DEN students who have made it possible.
Joshua Morton