Maddy Fisher of Austin Prep Joins Global Delegates at Harvard Model United Nations

This story was contributed by Austin Prep, a Patch Community Partner. The views shared reflect the author’s perspective and feature real experiences from the Austin Prep community.

Earlier this month, Austin Prep senior Maddy Fisher ’26 of Wilmington joined more than 3,500 students from over 60 countries at Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), a four-day international diplomacy simulation held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Marriott Copley Place.

Fisher was one of fifteen Austin Prep students selected to represent the school at the seventy-third session of the prestigious conference, where high school delegates assumed the roles of world leaders, debated global challenges, and drafted policy resolutions in formal committee sessions.

“It’s a setting that’s meant to facilitate real discussion,” Fisher said. “You’re debating global issues with people from completely different backgrounds, and everyone brings a different perspective to the table.”

Fisher served as the delegate for Luxembourg on a European Union committee focused on the political and economic impacts of Brexit. Working alongside students she had never met before, she helped research policy priorities, draft working papers, and combine ideas into a final multi-page resolution.

“It’s not about winning,” Fisher said. “You split into groups, write your ideas, combine them, and eventually turn everything into one resolution together. Ours ended up being eleven pages long.”

Seeing the World Through New Perspectives

Each day of the conference followed formal diplomatic procedures, including structured debates, timed speeches, and intensive collaboration.

“It’s very professional,” Fisher said. “Everyone’s in business attire. You’re making motions, speaking in front of the group, and constantly thinking on your feet.”

What stood out most to Fisher was the international makeup of her committee.

“There were people on my committee from Estonia, Lebanon, Venezuela, Brazil, Greece, and all over the United States,” she said. “You’re meeting people who grew up in totally different environments and talking about real issues together.”

Even outside committee sessions, those connections continued.

“We went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory one day,” Fisher said. “Three of the people I was with had never been before because they weren’t from the U.S., so it was fun getting to show them something so normal to me.”

Model UN also pushed Fisher to think beyond her own interests.

“I’m not really a finance person,” she said, “but Luxembourg is very economically focused, so I had to learn how to approach everything from that country’s priorities.”

“It forces you to listen just as much as you speak,” Fisher said. “You can’t just push your own ideas. You have to understand what everyone else wants and figure out how to meet in the middle. That’s what makes it challenging, but also what makes it so rewarding.”

A Year-Long Model UN Experience at Austin Prep

Model UN is deeply integrated into the academic experience at Austin Prep.

Every ninth-grade student completes a year-long Model UN course that culminates in a full-scale simulation conference led by upper school Model UN members. Student leaders design committee topics, write background guides, guide debate sessions, and assess participants.

Jon Whalen, Dean of Humanities at Austin Prep and Model UN Moderator, said the structure gives students meaningful leadership and responsibility.

“Our students become the chairs of the committees,” Whalen said. “They run debate, guide discussion, and take ownership of the entire experience. It builds confidence, professionalism, and real-world skills.”

That foundation prepares students for advanced conferences such as Harvard Model United Nations.

A Delegate Who Thinks on Her Feet

Whalen has worked with Fisher since her freshman year and says her abilities consistently stand out.

“Maddy has a unique ability to keep a lot of very dense information in her head,” Whalen said. “Applying it in real time, thinking on her feet, and building consensus with others is a completely different skill, and she does that exceptionally well.”

He added that Fisher’s focus and engagement elevate every committee.

“She’s very engaged,” Whalen said. “When it’s something she wants to excel in, she can take it to a very advanced level.”

For Fisher, Model UN has played a major role in shaping her future goals.

“I want to be a special education attorney,” she said. “Model UN has taught me how to debate in a structured environment, communicate professionally, and work with people who think differently.”

Building Confidence Through Global Collaboration

Fisher said the intensity of the conference was matched by the relationships built along the way.

“You spend hours debating serious topics, then you’re talking with people from other countries about their lives,” she said. “It’s exhausting, but it’s also really rewarding.”

Whalen believes those experiences reflect the broader impact of the program.

“Our students are interacting with peers from around the world and holding themselves to an incredibly high standard,” he said. “They leave these conferences more confident, more informed, and ready to lead.”

For Fisher, Harvard Model United Nations offered both challenge and inspiration.

“It’s intense,” she said, “but it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had. It’s something I definitely want to keep doing in college.”

Explore Austin Prep Model UN

Interested in attending Austin Prep in Reading, MA and engaging in immersive, real-world learning experiences like Model United Nations? Learn more about Austin Prep academic programs, or complete an inquiry form to begin your journey.