Be Yourself: An Interview With Laila Delpuppo Messari From Morocco
Aaryana Sethi
Welcome! Today, we’re talking to Laila Delpuppo Messari from Morocco…
Hi Laila, thank you for your time! Would you please introduce yourself?
My name is Laila Delpuppo Messari. I’m half Brazilian half Moroccan, and currently live in the tiny town of Ifrane, Morocco though I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I’m 16 and currently a junior at the Al Akhawayn School of Ifrane which follows an American education model. I’m an only child, though I consider Piccolo — my not-so-small black Labrador — a sibling [the cutest dog in the world]. I’m the kind of person that always has a project or plan and always has to stay busy. It’s probably a consequence of this that I am on the swim team, track team, and MUN club, and that I play badminton at the national level here in Morocco. I love arguing and I love playing Devil’s advocate which can be both annoying and fun, depending on the person I’m talking to! Despite being an only child, I’m very social and outgoing and love interacting with others.
We’ll start with a couple of questions about how you represent our organization’s mission so perfectly. I know that interactions with adults can be terrifying, especially at a young age; what’s your experience like interacting with adults?
I’m an only child, so ever since I was little I have had to interact with adults more than most kids would.
Did you always feel comfortable around them? Did anything change?
As I grew up, I realized that these adults that I have been talking to my whole life have actual jobs and I began wondering how talking to them is different than talking to someone in my school administration.
The person you’re talking to is a human just like you. Address them that way, and you’ll be fine.
As I thought about this, I came to the decision that to me, there would be no difference. Yes, I would have to be more formal in a professional setting but the key to addressing anyone is by simply thinking you’re addressing a regular human being. In that moment that you are addressing them, that’s all there is to the story. Having come to this realization, talking to adults, both in friendly settings and in conflicts has become much easier.
Do you have any advice for younger girls that might have trouble with this kind of interaction?
This is the advice I would give any girl — or anyone really — the person you’re talking to is a human just like you. Address them that way, and you’ll be fine.
Being a girl is an opportunity to be a changemaker.
I know that you’re absolutely amazing at sports and physical activity! Could you tell me about a time when you felt physically strong or powerful?
Setting the 800m race record for my school’s league last year at the MASAC tournament. No one believed I could do it. I hadn’t trained enough. I was too focused on academics. I wasn’t a little girl who could just ease herself into first place anymore. I am a girl who was incapable of breaking a record for the new age category I was in. Yet, I proved every single one of those statements wrong. I beat the record, I won the race. Granted, the soreness that followed the race stayed with me for days, but that moment where I crossed the finish line was a moment of utter and complete physical strength for me.
Since strength can come from more than just physical activity, could you tell me about a time when you felt strong or powerful while speaking to someone, or a group of people?
This was my first MUN conference. I was a ninth grader in a committee of juniors, seniors, and college students. At finding out my age, everyone seemed ready to destroy me in the debates that would follow. I remember reading out my position paper, and everyone stared at me shocked at the powerful stance I had [taken] towards the issue we were discussing. Then, they bombarded me with more questions than anybody else, after all, I was but a freshmen. But I answered every single one of them strongly and saying exactly what I wanted to be said. With that, I returned to my seat, feeling powerful at having accomplished my task.
I want to [make] the decisions that make our world run.
As a girl that’s very passionate about the world, could you tell me about the cause you’re most passionate about?
This is a really hard question. There are so many causes that I’m passionate about that it’s difficult to choose one. Feminism is definitely a big one for me, along with climate justice. However, one that is less spoken about (at least in my environment) is the immigration crisis. Morocco is a crossing point for Sub-Saharan migrants wanting to reach Europe. Hundreds of these migrants never make it to Europe, drowning in the Mediterranean. This is an issue that I don’t believe gets enough attention. Worst of all, when the migrants reach Europe (normally Spain) they have no means to get a job because most are only fluent in French.
What steps have you taken, or do you plan to take to advocate for what you believe in?
Along with students from the local university, I’ve taught a group of migrants, residing in Morocco for the time being, English. With this asset, once they make it to Spain (which by now many of them have) they’ll find jobs more easily and all the effort that they put into getting there will be put to good use!
What do you think of as your biggest accomplishment? Why? What made you decide to pursue that path?
I believe that all accomplishments are important because they are the ones who have made me who I am today. However, one of my biggest accomplishments is getting into and participating in YYGS [Yale Young Global Scholars]. This is because Yale has been my dream for as long as I can remember and this was a step towards it. YYGS is also a very competitive program and I’m very proud of getting in. It has also introduced me to great people and wonderful learning experiences and I’m very thankful for that.
No one believed I could do it. Yet, I proved every single one of those statements wrong.
You mentioned earlier that you care quite a bit about feminism. How do you define feminism, and what does it mean to you?
I define feminism as the fight for gender equality. For me, it means that there is hope for a future where women are not ever considered inferior to men.
Was there a time in your life where you didn’t appreciate being a girl/woman? What changed?
When I first became aware of gender inequality, when I was about six years old, I asked my dad if it was a bad thing that I was born a girl.
I define feminism as the fight for gender equality.
However, I have always had people in my surroundings who have shown me that being a girl is an opportunity to be a changemaker and to make a difference in a world that is so flawed.
What role has mentorship, being a mentor or having a mentor, played in your life?
Two of my mentors are friends of mine who are much older and graduated from my school a couple of years ago. They have been influential in my life both by guiding me through difficult times, rejoicing with me in good times, and being role models.
Can you tell us what a typical day looks like for you? What activities do you take part in? How much sleep do you get?
I wake up at 7:15, and get out of bed at 7:25 ish. School starts at 8:45, and ends at 3:40. On a regular day, I have four classes and a lunch period (which I never miss because food is very important). After school, depending on the season, I do badminton, track, swimming, or basketball practice. Once a week, I do yoga, which is essential to destress during a busy week. Once I get home, I shower, eat something, and get started on homework. I try to always be asleep before midnight to get at the very least 7ish hours of sleep.
The hard times aren’t permanent…Be the outspoken girl regardless of what people tell you.
What’s your vision for yourself ten years from now?
I want to be a lawyer and work at the United Nations to be able to take part in making the decisions that make our world run.
What’s your favorite book or movie, and how have those changed since you were in eighth grade?
My favorite book in eighth grade was the Princess Diaries; my favorite book now is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I have too many great movies to name, most of which are still my favorites ever since the eighth grade.
If you could give one piece of advice to your eighth-grade self, what would it be?
Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up (omg this makes me sound so old). The hard times that you’ll go through (and inevitably, you will go through some) aren’t permanent. Create the life you want for yourself and fight for everything you believe in. Be the outspoken girl regardless of what people tell you.
Check out Laila’s amazing work and accomplishments on Instagram: @lailadelpmessari