Admin: Behind the Scenes, Day 1
Admin: Behind the Scenes, Day 1
Tomas C.
As the schools began to arrive, several well-dressed individuals wearing green or red badge straps were seen warmly greeting, orienting, and conversing with delegates as the conference unfolded. These people are not just pretty faces with smiles, who appear to have an impressive depth of knowledge; these are admins. Ever-present and always there for you, which might make you ponder, what makes them so helpful? Admins aren’t intensely trained for this position, but rather helpful and calculated individuals who always plan ahead. Let’s zoom in on what their life looks like.
The Dreaded Morning
The first day of the conference is always a busy one for admins. If you’re reading this after November 7th, you’ve likely seen how amazing everything unfolded. For the head admins, the day begins early at 8:20 AM, the same time a regular school day begins at CAISL. However, today is not a school day for them, it’s a day of preparation.
Head admins start their morning by organizing the delegate badges, ensuring that every item is in place before the delegates arrive. They also prepare the registration desk and set up hoodie stands around the school, so delegates can grab some IMUN swag as soon as they arrive. But it wouldn’t be fair to just mention the work done this morning. For days leading up to the event, admins have been hard at work behind the scenes, ensuring everything is ready. They had to make sure that every goodie bag contained the correct items, and that all badges were printed and organized for distribution. For the two councils that began debating on Day 1, admins had to alphabetize and arrange the country placards on the desks and ensure the debate rooms were ready.
The Noon Side-Hustle
By 12:30 PM, half an hour before the Opening Ceremony, head admins are keeping the momentum they started with. After a quick lunch to recharge, the regular admins step in to help the Head Admins get everything ready as the other schools arrive.
It’s now 1:00 PM, but the admins don't attend the Opening Ceremony. Instead, they attend a meeting in a different building to go over the plans for the day. This meeting, led by the head admins who have been working non-stop since early morning, helps prepare everyone for the next part of the conference.
The Afternoon Hustle
Once the Opening Ceremony concludes, head admins dash to the theater and open the doors for the delegates as they exit. At the same time, regular admins disperse to their assigned roles. The hoodie stands open, where admins are ready to sell IMUN hoodies whose sizes vary from S to XL with a nice color palette and an even nicer feel to the skin. Some admins head to the council rooms to assist delegates during the lobbying process, while others direct delegates who are searching for their committees. Certain admins are standing around the school, helping delegates find their room and answering any questions they have.
Meanwhile, other admins meet with the chairs to finalize preparations for the debates starting that day. These roles might seem like simple tasks, but in the bigger picture, every small job contributes to a smooth-running conference. When every piece falls into place, the whole event flows effortlessly.
The Head Admins are spotted around the school triumphantly walking from one room to another. What each Head Admin in specific is doing is unknown, but judging by their confidence and the conference’s productivity, it’s clear they’re working hard to ensure everything stays on track.
Wrap It Up
As the conference day concludes, delegates begin to leave, but for the admins, their work is not over yet. The heads of admin, chairs, and some press members who have stayed behind prepare to clean up and organize everything for tomorrow’s venue. Before they get to work though, the admins discover that the previously off-limits MUN Director’s Room, filled with leftover food, is open for them to grab a quick bite.
A fun snack of boiled eggs, watermelon, and bread with ham and cheese provides an interesting possibly nutritious break. Afterward, the admins return to work, gathering placards for tomorrow, and wrapping them in bubble wrap for safe transport. Some jobs have already been done earlier in the day, which helps them finish earlier. Once the placards, and other things such as boxes of hoodies, the badge printer, and various other resources are loaded into teachers' cars, it marks the end of a long, productive, and tiring day for the admins.
Looking At Tomorrow
With the venue prepped and the team ready for the next day, everyone looks forward to the continuation of the conference. As we anticipate tomorrow’s sessions, we’ll be back with the second edition of this article, offering another glimpse into the life of an admin at the conference.