When students arrive at a school event, they usually see the final result: the activities are ready, the spaces are organized, and everything seems to be working. What they do not always see is the amount of work that happened before the event. From COSMUN to activities at the Ubuntu Ecological Park, planning, communication, problem-solving, and leadership are all important parts of making school experiences possible.
“Organizing COSMUN is a process that starts months before the actual conference”, said Samuel Mendivelso, a senior at TCS and COSMUN’S secretary-general. Who also mentios how preparing the conference means handling many responsibilities at once Preparing the conference means handling many different responsibilities at the same time. “I think the most challenging part is coordinating so many different things at the same time.” This shows that school events are about much more than what students see during the actual activity. COSMUN, for example, requires organizers to manage different areas at once. “COSMUN is not just an academic event but also a logistical, financial, social, and organizational project.”
The same kind of work can be seen in other parts of school life. At Ubuntu Park, students and leaders also have to plan activities and make sure they are safe and organized. Andres Rendon, high school counselor and Ubuntu Park leader, who leads activities at Ubuntu Park and works with the student Ubuntu Leaders, describes his role as more than just managing the park. “Ubuntu Park is a space at the school where I have taken on a leadership role, seeking to spread the African philosophy of Ubuntu.” Students also have an important role in making these activities become reality. According to Rendon, “As organizers, Ubuntu leaders, young people face the challenge of planning activities, communicating, managing discipline, giving clear instructions and following up, and in general, all the challenges associated with leading an activity with a group.”
However, planning does not mean that everything will always go perfectly. Leaders also have to know how to react when something unexpected happens. Rendon explained that two students were recently injured during a challenge that he was not directly supervising. “Recently, two young people were injured in a challenge that I was not directly supervising.” After the incident, he followed up to make sure the students were okay and worked with maintenance to make the activity safer. These examples show that the work behind school activities is not only about making sure everything looks organized. It is also about creating opportunities for students. At COSMUN, that includes students from outside Columbus. “If a student from another school can come to Columbus, participate in a committee, meet new people, develop their public speaking and negotiation skills, and leave wanting to do Model UN again, then I consider the event a success.”
Whether it is a large conference like COSMUN or an activity at Ubuntu Park, students are able to enjoy these experiences because people are working behind the scenes to make them happen. Much of this work may not be noticed, but it has an important role in making school a place where students can learn, participate, and develop. A quote that both Samuel and Andres agree upon is, “I would like us to care for and value the immense human talent that surrounds us every day.”