Post by Krishnitha Manickavasagam

——— Youth Model ASEAN Conference (YMAC) 2025 ——— A late post but nonetheless, here it is. Over the semester break in March, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in YMAC as a delegate alongside one of my friends from my CCA. We got to represent Ngee Ann Polytechnic in this international conference, where we discussed resolutions for many regional issues with students from other Singaporean Polytechnics and the Universitas Pelita Harapan. This conference was held over 5 days, 1 being online and 4 spent in Jakarta, Indonesia. On the virtual day, we were introduced to our fellow working group delegates, had a few industry talks, and were split into our respective delegations after. I was part of the Lao PDR delegation with Kadiz Tan and Lim William Hasim in working group 1, where we were to discuss Urban Waste Management. We introduced ourselves to each other and worked together to create a Joint Opening Statement, which had to be delivered on Day 2. I think from the start itself, we kicked off and worked well together. When we actually touched down into Jakarta, we all immediately locked in and worked on our materials to deliver. On Day 2, everyone socialised, introduced their groups, and presented their countries’ stances. From Day 2–5, debates on urban waste management continued, leading to three proposed solutions, which I had the honour of sharing with the guest of honour before the closing ceremony. The highlight for me was Day 4, when we visited the ASEAN Secretariat for speeches and working group discussions. Later, our learning journey to Bencongon Indah gave us valuable insights into waste management, helping us refine our final solutions. On Day 5, I woke up with excitement over who would’ve won the awards. Something that also contributed to the excitement was being able to introduce my working group’s ideas to the guest of honours before the actual closing ceremony. There were farewell performances that I fully enjoyed. During the awards ceremony, my roommate, Kimberly, won and I was so proud of her. What I didn’t expect was my name being called out right after for the best delegate award. I was so shocked that my friends had to ask me to move to the stage. This achievement not only showcased my abilities but also represented my moments of growth and challenges. Representing NP at the Youth Model ASEAN Conference in March 2025 was significant, pushing me beyond my comfort zone and deepening my understanding of regional issues. Winning Best Delegate wasn't just an award, it was a moment where all the late nights of preparation and practice paid off. It gave me the confidence to take on more ambitious roles in the future and go to more events like this, where I don't just get meaningful experiences, but also long-lasting friendships. All in all, this had made me become more outgoing and do things out of my comfort zone. I will forever be thankful for being given this opportunity.