Despite their academic excellence and mental rigor, not every Model United Nations (MUN) Secretariat-General achieves acceptance to an Ivy League school. Not only has Laguna Beach High got both of their Sec-Gens to that applaudable height, but both Lili Bazargan and Carter McKinzie are on their way to Columbia University, the prestigious institution in New York City.
It feels surreal to see two different people with exceptional characteristics reach such a landmark goal, demonstrating the success of both the program they are a product of and their efforts. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the last two years of Journalism with Lili, with her being my co-editor this year, and I can’t rave enough about her passion for everything she gets her hands on. While not having such a working relationship with Carter, I’ve found a smile on my face in each interaction and every time I’ve seen a speech he has delivered, and I do not doubt that Columbia will be an outstanding stepping stone that propels him to a career of high magnitude.
For Lili, the defining moment of her MUN career came when she helped organize the first-ever City Council Candidates Forum at LBHS. “It was amazing to expand the scope of MUN’s engagement with the community,” she said. The discussion wasn’t just symbolic of MUN’s influence at the school; it also reflected her broader mission: showcasing student voices and how they can help shape civic conversations. You aren’t too young to be heard.
Carter’s most significant takeaway from MUN was the mental rigor that came along with it. “The most important skill I learned was the ability to think critically,” he said, detailing the chaotic nature of committee sessions where delegates must balance conflicting perspectives and work towards a consensus. For him, leadership was not simply about running the class. “My role was similar to the CEO of a company – making sure everything runs smoothly.”
Both credit the course with taking their public speaking to a new level, boosting their leadership skills, and showing them the immense value of preparation behind the scenes. Whether it was Monday leadership meetings or the early planning sessions that began for the next year before the current one even started, both student leaders had to put in their all despite their tiresome schedules and workloads.
Whenever I hear Carter speak, I know I can’t miss a word as each one tinge with importance, and I know Lili will deliver a speech that draws me in and leaves me thinking. I’m jealous of the MUN students and the leaders they’ve been fortunate enough to have, blending both professional and relatability to create a beautiful class environment.
It was not just their leadership experiences and the glamor of Columbia that drew the pair there. For both, the institution reflects their deep set of values and goals.
Carter emphasized Columbia’s intellectual flexibility. “They don’t require a major declaration until the end of your second year,” he said. “That gives me time to figure out what I’m truly interested in.” He’s leaning toward political science and financial economics as he is drawn by the appeal of mixing public policy with the finance sector in a way that benefits Americans’ everyday lives. Also, the appeal of the Big Apple was just too strong: “To be in the middle of it all — the largest financial institutions, great theatre, people from all backgrounds — that’s something I was drawn to.”
Lili, meanwhile, is enrolling in Columbia’s Dual BA program with Sciences Po in France. “I already knew I loved New York,” she said, “but walking around Columbia’s campus felt like a haven from the chaos of the city.” Her essay focused heavily on her experiences in Laguna’s MUN program, and now she’s more than ready to join the programs at Columbia and Sciences Po.
Looking forward to studying Political Science and Economics, Lili hopes to pursue her passion by blending international perspectives and cultural exchange.
I asked what they’d say to new MUN members, and both offered grounded, practical insight.
“MUN is an avenue to better understand how the world works,” Carter said. “It’s where you learn how to think, not just what to think.” Lili added that “there’s a lot people don’t see” behind the class’s success — the prep work, the practice debates, the long hours. But both believe that effort pays off.
From their first debates in the library to a packed city council forum to traveling to DC for conferences, both Secretaries-General have left a long legacy that current and future LBHS MUN members will step into – one that stretches from Laguna Beach to Manhattan (and Paris, too).
Lili and Carter, I wish you the best of luck, and I’m confident you’ll succeed wherever you go. Columbia isn’t just gaining two incredibly driven people; they’re getting lucky to acquire two outstanding leaders, the best our tiny coastal town offers.
