UNreal, UNnerving, UNbelievable
UNreal, UNnerving, UNbelievable.
By Pascaliah Oganda
I used to think opportunities like these were reserved for a certain kind of person, someone who knew all the right people, spoke all the right jargon, and somehow had an instruction manual to life. People who belonged to international networks or schools that taught you how to write policy papers and pitch ideas with polished confidence. You know the type.
Just not me.
Even after I joined civic spaces and got involved in advocacy, I still didn’t see myself ever walking the halls of the United Nations. I mean, I had fantasized about it, of course, 15-year-old me would daydream about wearing a name tag, walking with purpose into some big global meeting because I saw the EAMUN Club members in my highschool do that. But it was just that: a dream. Something far away. Something that always seemed to belong to other people.
And yet, there I was. At the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council. Delivering an oral statement. Speaking at a plenary session. Representing the girls and young women. Representing myself.
It still doesn’t feel real.
I remember standing there, reading my statement, heart pounding, hands slightly shaking, my brain screaming “Just don’t mess up. Don’t fumble. Don’t forget a word.” I had practiced that statement probably a hundred times, maybe more. I whispered it to myself in the hallway. I ran it in my head while walking to the venue. I even mentally rehearsed it while brushing my teeth. And still, as I stood behind the microphone, I was terrified.
Terrified of making a mistake. Terrified that I might not live up to the faith people had placed in me. Terrified that I wouldn’t prove worthy of this space that once felt so out of reach.
Because let’s be honest, these spaces aren’t exactly easy to access, especially for young people at the grassroots. Many don’t even know they exist. And even when you do, getting there requires a cocktail of privilege, connections, funding, and the right kind of visibility. It often feels like there’s a secret code you’re not meant to have.
So I carry that awareness with me. I carry the weight of all the people who are just as passionate, just as smart, just as ready but who don’t get invited to speak, to travel, to sit at the table. I carry the responsibility to show up fully not just for myself, but for those who still think they need to shrink or polish themselves to fit in.
And while I’m being honest, yes, I still feel nervous. I still have imposter syndrome. I still wonder if I’m saying the right thing, or if my voice is shaking too much. But I’m learning something valuable: you don’t have to feel 100% ready to take up space. You just need to be willing. Willing to learn. Willing to grow. Willing to speak, even when your voice trembles.
I’ve had a lot of support along the way. From the She Leads Consortium, mentors, and fellow girls and young women who have reminded me time and again: You deserve to be here. And without them, I wouldn’t have made it this far.
This journey has taught me that progress matters more than perfection. That being human in these high-level spaces is not a weakness, it’s a superpower. And that sometimes, just showing up is already a revolution.
So if you’re reading this, wondering whether international spaces like the UN are really meant for people like you—let me say this: Yes. They are! You don’t have to speak a certain way or come from a certain place. You just have to keep showing up, learning, and speaking your truth.
Because dreams aren’t so far-fetched after all.