Late afternoons at The Columbus School are no longer quiet. Classrooms stay full, meetings run long, and students rush from one responsibility to another as COSMUN approaches. The school’s Model United Nations, taking place from March 3 to 6, 2026, brings both opportunities and pressure to members of the community. From planning meetings to long after-school hours, students and teachers describe the experience as demanding but meaningful.
One teacher, Camilo Hoyos, press sponsor for the last four years, shared that the workload has increased significantly. “I have way more students than I had before as a teacher, and this takes a lot of time reviewing their assignments and preparing classes. Then I know I have to do a week of COSMUN, which stresses me out.”
The added responsibilities leading up to the event have made this period especially intense, since teachers and students still have to keep up with regular schoolwork.
Despite the stress, participants emphasized the educational value of the model and how role-playing prepares students for real-life situations. Camilo Hoyos said, “The education of a teenager, from the moment they’re a kid in school until the moment they graduate, the biggest takeaway, the most important one, is role-playing to get in touch with reality.” For many, COSMUN represents a way to learn beyond traditional classroom activities.
Students involved in organizational roles also described the physical and mental demands. 12th grade student Matias Gonzales, a logistics team member and former delegate, explained, “I have to organize the rooms. This makes you get really tired, and it is exhausting because it’s after school, so you’re the first to arrive and the last to leave. But it’s part of having discipline, so that’s why I like the model.” The long hours are challenging, but they are also seen as part of personal growth.
Leadership and responsibility were recurring themes among the presidents of COSMUN, including secretaries and sponsors. One student said, “When my president tells me what I need to do, I just do it, so it doesn’t really affect my academic life or social life.” However, leadership has not been without difficulties.
12th grader, Maria del Mar Aaron, the secretary general, noted, “The biggest challenge so far has been when some presidents quit and don’t do the job they are being asked to do. Because of that, we have to talk with the person to make sure everything is okay, and if not, we have to change them.” Continuity is important for COSMUN’s organization, and when people do not keep up with their responsibilities, it makes the organizers’ job much harder.
The event has continued to expand over time. This year marks the 33rd COSMUN at The Columbus School, making it one of the pioneers of Model United Nations in Medellín. “Each year the model grows, and that’s a really good thing. We want to see to what extent it can grow,” said Maria del Mar. Matias added, “I have noticed that COSMUN has gained a lot of sponsors, making the event the best model in Medellín.”
Along with organization and leadership, communication plays a key role. Camilo highlighted its importance by saying, “The press is like the epicenter of information. If the press didn’t exist, there would be a total disconnection from one another.” As planning intensifies and the date gets closer, Maria del Mar added, “Planning COSMUN is tough, with all types of meetings. This month is especially hard because we are getting closer to the event, which increases our workload.”