UN International Day at OSC was easily one of the highlights of my senior year. The entire school felt alive, buzzing with colors, music, and the smell of amazing food. Last year was my first UN Day here, and I remember being blown away by how everyone went all out with their traditional outfits. Toward the end of the parade, I got to hold the Indian flag for a moment. It was so brief, but it stuck with me, especially when I found out that this year, I’d be the one leading the parade with the flag as the oldest Indian student at OSC.
It felt like a full-circle moment. I think back to when I was 12, living in the Netherlands and going to the American School of The Hague. I used to watch the UN Day parade there, secretly wishing I could be the one holding the flag one day. But it always seemed out of reach. Plus, back then, the plan wasn’t even to graduate from an IB or international school. If younger me knew how things turned out, I think she’d be thrilled—even over something as small as this. It’s funny how life works out in ways you don’t expect.
Last year, I got to see the behind-the-scenes work for UN Day as part of the COMUN team. I was mostly observing and doing small tasks, but this year, as seniors, we got to participate in the workshops. Abeer and Cohen led one about a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and the highlight for me was watching Aura dive headfirst into a debate. She gets so fired up, and it’s honestly the best thing to watch. But I’m not gonna lie—the parade and food were what I was most excited about.
The food is something I’ll miss the most. You get to try dishes from all over the world, and it’s like a mini global food tour right at school. Every dish has its story, and it’s just such a good time. You can usually catch me hanging around the European stalls, grabbing pasta, Belgian waffles, pancakes—anything sweet.
My mom always gets excited about UN Day and loves helping out, especially with the Indian stall, which, not gonna lie, is always super popular. The food is incredible—there’s always a crowd, and she’s right in the middle of it all, chatting with everyone. This year, the event was right after we got back from ISTA, and it felt like this “invisible string” moment connecting everything. Even though I wasn’t physically with all my friends, it felt like we were still sharing the experience.
Looking back on senior year, UN Day is one of those moments that stands out. It’s such a great mix of culture, community, and just everyone having a good time together. It’s one of those things I’ll miss the most as I go through all the “lasts” this year, trying to soak it all in before we graduate.
Be First to Comment