The following reflection is from Rachel Kohley, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2024. Students had the opportunity to engage in civic engagement assignments with disarmament advocacy efforts in the context of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) meetings in New York City.

Few words properly describe the excitement I felt about taking Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control. My enthusiasm was evident – I signed up for every side event, forum, opportunity. In addition to my three days within the UN General Assembly First Committee, I attended the entirety of the Humanitarian Disarmament Forum, as well as the Youth Champions UN event and a visit to the Jamaican Mission.

Weeks later, I’m still reeling from the excitement of it all.

This class offered us a glimpse of the future. We walked into events trying to network for future jobs, envisioning how to make ourselves a home in disarmament conversations. Our primary purpose in the First Committee was to learn as much as possible for what lies ahead, but this raises the question: what is our place in these conversations now? Why are we inclined to believe our opinions shouldn’t be heard until we’ve gotten the diploma or degree?

Of all the exhilarating opportunities, the UNODA’s Youth4Disarmament event was the most nerve-wracking, yet rewarding. Pace students were invited to listen to the presentations the Youth Champions had been working on all year, and I gave a very brief response. While I’ve never been known to be particularly shy, I found myself clamming up when these students began to present their work; they were incredible. These brilliant minds were our age, and they were already writing, teaching, illustrating, and demonstrating exactly why youth voices are vital to disarmament conversations. The shamefully vain part of me thought: how on earth am I supposed to speak after all that?

 While I’m undeniably passionate about the opinions I shared – including the importance of meaningful youth involvement in media and diversifying narratives about disarmament education in the US – there were two informal moments from the event that stood out to me.

 The first was when I was called up to speak. The room was packed, and I’d been sitting far from the main table. The only seat available was right in the center, where H.E. Maritza Chan, Chair of the First Committee, had been sitting minutes before. Hesitating, I made a quip about not “being worthy” but was shut down. What Dr. Bolton said to me after has stuck with mesince: “If someone offers you a seat at a table, you should never refuse without a good reason!”

 Secondly, the Youth Champions themselves have left a lasting impact on my views about disarmament and activism work in the weeks since. Post-formal presentation, we chatted amongst ourselves for an hour-long networking event. Initially nervous to talk to such knowledgeable, accomplished people of my own age, I quickly realized that they were just as nervous – despite their prowess, we all struggled with finding our “place” in disarmament conversations. So instead of cordially passing greetings to one another, we all began complimenting one another, taking 0.5 selfies, and asking strikingly honest questions about ourexperiences studying disarmament. Instead of sharing LinkedIns, we were sharing Instagrams; I walked out smiling, having made friends.

 My experience at the Youth4Disarmament event demonstrated that our “place” as students in disarmament conversations is not limited to advising about social media engagement, or just listening in; Our place, as students, is to take the seat when it’s offered for us- or to grab one even when it’s not. The conversations and camaraderie we shared when given the chance to speak amongst each other is the meaningful youth engagement we need in disarmament.