Ten Top Tips for Attending an EYP International Session

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend an International Session (IS)? Perhaps you’re due to attend one and are wondering what to expect from the experience, or you’re simply curious to know more about them.

Tilda – one of our members – gives her 10 top tips for attending an EYP International Session, after attending The Hague International Session 2025.

1. This sounds like an obvious one, but make sure you read your topic overview before you arrive at the session. It’s so helpful to understand what you’re going to be working on for three days and it makes resolution writing so much easier if you can accurately use the terminology linked to your topic.

2. Coordinating packing with the other people in your delegation is super useful as it ensures that you don’t bring the same things, like shampoo and body wash, and makes packing simpler for everyone. Always make sure someone is bringing dry shampoo, you never realise how useful it is until you don’t have any!

3. Usually, the organising team will send you a rough guide on what to wear for each day or event, follow this! Everyone will interpret things differently in terms of “formal” or “smart casual”, but the most important thing is to be comfortable, especially if you’re sitting down all day. It’s also helpful to bring clothes that can be worn multiple ways, like a smart pair of trousers or a plain black skirt and boots that can be used in committee work and in general assembly.

4. If you’re flying to your IS, I suggest checking yourself in online before arriving at the airport as it saves time. Additionally, if you have not been to the airport before, see if you can research roughly how long it will take to get through security so that you can plan how early you need to be there before your flight.

5. Don’t be afraid to start conversations with people you don’t know. Most likely they only know one or two other people at the session and are nervous about trying to make new friends too, it’s everyone’s first time! International Sessions come with easy conversation starters, you can ask about where they are from, what committee they’re in or how they got selected. It’s all about taking the first step to introduce yourself – from then on, it’s easy.

6. Don’t feel pressure to use fancy or complicated language when writing speeches or points for general assembly or for committee work. Especially as for most people at the session, English won’t be their first language. Simple and clear vocabulary successfully gets the message across and has no effect on the quality of your ideas.

7. Make sure that you prioritise alone time. The days will be hectic, and the combination of work and socialising will be tiring, so give yourself some time to recharge and relax even if it’s just ten minutes at the end of each day.

8. General assembly can be intense, often tiring, and it’s possible to zone out, but remember to stay engaged during the debates and to show other committees the respect you want to be shown during your own debate. If you feel like you’re not in the right headspace to focus, go on a five-minute walk or sit outside for a minute, EYP prioritises mental health, and the Event Safe Persons (ESPs) are there to support you if you need a break.

9. You might not click with anyone right away but don’t let it impact you. You will find your people, it might just take a couple days so keep talking to everyone. You’re going to meet lots of new people at an International Session, mostly people who won’t live anywhere near you, so it’s important to invest in the friendships that you do make. Put effort in both during and after the Session to maintain those connections.

10. International Sessions can be intense and upon returning home you might feel drained or experience low feeling. It’s important to prioritise your mental health and take time for self-care post session; don’t feel pressure to immediately jump into another EYP session or to have constant contact with the new friends you’ve made. Take some time alone to decompress and settle back into everyday life.

For more information about International Sessions, please see the EYP Network website.
 
For more information about The Hague International Session, please see their website.