“Work hard and play hard is my main advice."

Sometimes networks don’t go that far—or do they? One sunny afternoon in Leuven, I was walking with my friend Jose, who I met through our mutual MUN friend Marie-Sophie (sending lots of love if you’re reading this!). We talked about this interview section, and I asked if he’d be interested in being featured. Jose, ever the modest one, laughed and said he was “too old for this” and had officially retired from MUN. But, knowing Jose, I’m not so sure—he still shows up to conferences! Instead, he suggested interviewing Adriana. “You’ll love her,” he said, and he wasn’t wrong.

Although we’ve never met, our conversation felt like catching up with an old friend. Adriana is from California but moved to Italy in 2021 to study for a bachelor’s in international relations and diplomatic sciences in Italian! Her introduction to MUN came through her friend Matilde at a bar. Matilde casually mentioned LisbonMUN and invited Adriana along. “I had no idea what it was, but I decided to try it,” she shared. That first conference was amazing: Adriana had a blast and walked away with the Best Delegate and Best Meme awards! Her first experience set the tone for an exciting journey in MUN. 

Over the past year, Adriana has become a familiar face in the MUN world, both a delegate and a chair. She has a particular love for committees tackling war, conflict, and environmental issues. Adriana noted that while women are often underrepresented in high-stakes committees like the UNSC, she relishes the opportunity to contribute and make her voice heard.

As a chair, she considers communication with co-chairs key and approaches challenges positively.

Regarding study guides, Adriana enjoys researching topics that interest her, making them engaging and informative for delegates. Reviewing position papers is another task she takes seriously, often leaving it to the last minute to keep the content fresh in her mind.

Adriana loves platforms like mymun and MUN software, such as MUN Command, for their ability to streamline applications and committee management. “It’s such a professional experience,” she shared. 

Beyond the formalities, Adriana is known for her humour, especially in MUN memes. “I love capturing those little moments that make conferences special,” she said. 

Adriana has big plans for the future. She’s thinking to move to Sweden to pursue a Master’s degree in English and is exploring career paths in diplomacy. “MUN has taught me so much—public speaking, negotiation, and a deeper understanding of geopolitics,” she reflected. As I listened to Aadriana’s story, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by her journey. Her energy, passion, and openness are contagious, making her the person who lights up a room—or a conference. Right now, I am looking to this new year for more MUNs, more memes, and maybe one-day meeting in person to share even more laughs.