Harvard Model United Nations China 2025
In August this year, I took part in Harvard Model United Nations China 2025 in Guangzhou. Hosted by Harvard University, this international competition brought together over 600 young people from 27 countries, forming 16 teams. My team represented China’s business and industry sector.
When I first arrived at the venue, I felt small and overwhelmed, but I resolved to give it my best. The rules required the business teams to operate independently and generate revenue. Drawing on my talent for painting, I began selling artwork. At first, the income was modest. To increase value, I started attaching stories and context to each piece, which quickly boosted sales.
Soon, I realized that relying on my own efforts alone would cap growth. So I designed a distribution model: I provided my paintings to other business teams that had not yet launched their own projects, and in return, we shared profits. This strategy not only increased my earnings significantly but also helped other teams achieve profitability. Within a short time, we had built a cooperative sales network.
However, heavy taxation consumed much of the profit. After observing closely, I noticed that there were two “government teams,” each imposing very different tax rates.
I initiated negotiations, bringing together other business groups to form an industrial alliance. Together, we pushed to align with the government that offered lower taxes and more favorable policies. Once the alliance was established, our influence grew dramatically, and for a time we even ranked first.
In the end, the government teams gained the upper hand by selling national resources, and we finished in second place. Yet what I gained was far more valuable than a title: the courage to innovate, the ability to integrate resources, and a conviction in achieving win-win outcomes through collaboration.
At eighteen, this experience has shown me that age is more than just a number—it marks a stage of growth. The Harvard Model UN taught me that true victory lies not in rankings, but in the willingness to explore and break boundaries. Though we fell short of the championship, the lessons I carried away remain one of the most meaningful treasures of my youth.
