In my life, there have been only two places that sent shivers down my spine as I entered them: the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the United Nations General Assembly Hall. As I entered the GA, I found myself inspired to study and do everything in my power to do good for my country. When I entered the UN, the place where decisions in the world are made, many things crossed my mind. First, I thought of the concepts of equity and power as the UN does stand to be an institution that promotes justice and opportunities for all. I found this particularly evident in the difference in elevation of the entrance halls of diplomats, kings, presidents, and prime ministers to that of the public: the entrance of the public was elevated relative to the entrance of dignitaries in order to remind them who they are serving. I think this juxtaposition is necessary because in the real world, the opposite occurs: the public serves the dignitaries. Second, I saw manifestations of privilege and identity in the history of the UN and colonialism. The emotions one gets from looking back at the past are dictated by their identity, and to be able to look back at the past and be either proud or indifferent means that one is in a position of privilege. Third, I saw the concepts of intersectionality, culture, and language in the way the UN is an institution that is composed of different countries and stands to be the mediator in resolving issues that cross borders. I find it interesting how different cultures meet there and (ideally) strive for common goals: peace and prosperity. On a light note, I recently learned that French is the language of diplomacy! Ultimately, my visit to the UN was inspiring yet also reminded me of my positionality in the world: I have a job to do for my country. The visit got me very excited for the future, but it also reminded me of the many sufferings around the world.
