It鈥檚 a summer modelling job, so to speak.
While many students are pursuing summer vacation, political science major Sam Vlessing is pursuing international peace and security as he heads an entire delegation of students who want to make a difference.
Mr. Vlessing鈥檚 summer plans started half a year ago, when he applied to attend the first-ever model North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) youth summit, MoNYS 2012.
鈥淚 was happy enough to go as an individual applicant, but to head the delegation from Canada is awesome!鈥� he says in an email, as he works at his summer internship in Amsterdam.
After reviewing his application, organizers asked Mr. Vlessing to assemble a Canadian group to attend the summit in Brussels, Belgium. He sent out emails and hung posters around campus, eventually filling the delegate positions with four fellow AV俱乐部 students: Luke Schuster, a major of international development studies; Morgan Knox and Veronique Rendell-Fournier, both political science students; and Joseph Shupac, a recent economics graduate.
Global decision-making
Mr. Vlessing and company are the only youth delegation representing Canada at the summit, which runs July 8-13.
There are 29 delegations in total, with each group attending on behalf of a country. Delegates from North America and Europe, as well as Asia, Australia and South Africa are will be participating in discussions that simulate NATO鈥檚 decision-making processes.
Mr. Vlessing鈥攚ho will be entering his third year as a double-major (he鈥檚 also studying in Dal鈥檚 Environment, Sustainability and Society program)鈥攂elieves that NATO campaigns require 鈥渋nnovative thinking and strategic thinking in order to be successful.鈥�
For students who followed NATO鈥檚 intervention in Libya in 2011 (or, for those who鈥檝e been watching longer, Serbia in 1999), the conference is an opportunity to experience the organization鈥檚 inner workings first-hand. 聽
鈥淭hese events help students develop skills that may one day help them in their political, or even any other, career,鈥� says Mr. Vlessing.
Responsible approach
The Summit鈥檚 central theme is "political responsibility through leadership, innovation and strategic thinking in the XXI century."
鈥淏y signing onto NATO, a collective security alliance, all 29 member states are obligated to assist each other in removing security threats; that鈥檚 their practical obligation,鈥� explains Mr. Vlessing.
鈥淚 would define this type of political responsibility as standing up for what you believe in.鈥�
During the week, youth delegates will learn about NATO proceedings by sitting on six committees: the North Atlantic Council, the Defence Policy and Planning Committee, the Political Partnership Committee, the Operation Policy Committee, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the NATO-Russia Council.
鈥淚 would like to enter politics in the far future,鈥� says Mr. Vlessing, who will be writing his LSATs this summer in hopes of attending law school in the US. 鈥淢aybe one day become prime minister,鈥� he adds tentatively.
But for now Mr. Vlessing is excited to take learning outside of the classroom.
鈥淭his is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deal with real world issues with some of the brightest minds of our generation.鈥�