“You have a face, be seen; you have a voice, be heard; you have ideas: make, them, count!”

When you spend enough time in the MUN circuit, you start meeting people who leave a lasting impression, not just for their debating skills but for the way they carry themselves. That’s exactly how I’d describe Dario. I met him at LeiMUN 2024, and from the start, he stood out.

Dario is the perfect mix of sharp diplomacy and “Moderno” aesthetics. He’s the kind of guy who can walk into a room dressed like he just stepped off a fashion runway and still command the debate floor with ease. I haven’t seen him again yet, but if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that he’s making things happen there.

Dario is 21 years old and is currently studying Data Analytics at IE and is one of the official mymun delegates. As he put it: “A friend of Jonas.” His first MUN was in 2018, back in high school. In February of that year, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and initially thought he would have to live a strict life. But he decided not to let that stop him: “I’m going to live life and try new things like MUN, something I had no idea about.” He attended two more conferences at his school and started building his MUN career. To date, he has participated in approximately 10 full-scale MUNs (impressive, to be honest).

But looking back, his first experience wasn’t all roses and rainbows. “It went pretty badly, I won’t lie.” He didn’t even know which country he was representing, nor did he read the study guide (disappointed face entering the group chat). He felt stared at and judged, but despite that, he had an amazing time because he met new people and explored a new city. If you don’t want the same thing to happen to you, he advises: “Know what you’re getting into. Read, do your research, and go in with a constructive mindset and an open mind.” He emphasized that people won’t take things personally and that, at the end of the day, the goal of MUN is to have fun.

As for chairing versus being a delegate, it depends. He enjoys being a chair sometimes because, as he put it: “If I had to interact with certain delegates (as another delegate), I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.” But other times, he wants to be part of the drama and actively debate in the room. He loves expert committees (who doesn’t?). “Discussions get intense, but MUN provides a safe, healthy, and constructive environment.” But let’s be real, what he enjoys the most is the social aspect and dressing up.

When it comes to chairing, good communication is key with your co-chair, especially in double-delegation committees (he chaired one at LeiMUN 2024). “Even though inside the committee things seem structured, outside, negotiations are happening.” So yeah, I know what’s coming for this year’s EuroMUN edition. 

In terms of organizing MUNs, he was the SG of IEMUN Jr 2024. Normally, they hold a mixed edition with both high school and university students, but this time, they organized the conferences separately. Compared to university-level MUNs, high school-level MUNs are more supported and relaxed, with faculty members playing a bigger role. He noted that while the excitement of newcomers is great, the experience isn’t as intense as at IEMUN University Conference.

But every high has its low: “The bureaucratic side of things was a nightmare.” The academic aspect was fine, but they struggled with contacting schools. “mymun helped a lot, the platform made that process much easier.”

He has a million stories about MUN: a 45-minute walk after a nightclub at Barcelona MUN with friends, running to catch the night bus, one person took off her shoes, only to have the driver shut the door and drive off just as they arrived. Everyone was completely done. The Prado Gala was another highlight, they were told they couldn’t play music unrelated to the Prado Museum, but they ended up blasting ABBA and Bad Gyal. But the moment he’ll always remember? Giving the opening and closing speeches at IEMUN Jr. “That was cute.”

And, as with every interview, he threw in the classic closing line: ·I can already see the light at the end of the tunnel·. He learned a lot of valuable skills, not just as a delegate and chair but also as a secretariat member. The networking opportunities, he said, are invaluable. He also wanted to shout out to Alejandro, Diego and Gonzalo, literally: “I love you guys.” And he wrapped it all up with the perfect final touch: “Live life to the fullest, I like to believe in growing as a person and as a global citizen.”

And with that, Dario’s MUN career continues (for now). He is probably right now somewhere in a suit, delivering a nice speech, or just vibing at a social. So, take his advice, read your study guide (seriously, don’t pull a 2018 Dario), and remember: MUN is all about having fun. Catch you all at the next conference, and who knows? Maybe we will see each other in Leiden again, debating policy or escaping a nightclub at 4 AM to catch the bus.