Interview with Mrs. Melissa Del Aguila

Text of the Full Interview Below:

For Mrs. Melissa Del Aguila, her spirit of giving back began at a young age, and as she grew, her dedication and impact only deepened.

Melissa grew up in Cleveland Park in a multigenerational home where she was inspired by her family. She is also a child of immigrants, and she grew up very involved in her community. Melissa was given a scholarship to Sidwell. This contributed to her desire to give back to her Sidwell community, due to her sense of gratitude. Sidwell's Quaker education also motivated her to take human rights classes. She cites the Quaker tenet that everyone should do their part. Throughout high school, she was exposed to many service opportunities. One of them included volunteering at the Sidwell preschool.

Melissa loved science and went to college with the intention of combining it with world affairs. Later, she worked with the US Center for Refugees, which made her realize that she could make a greater difference in law rather than science. Thus, she changed her focus to refugee law. After law school, she learned how different each area of law can be. Through an impactful clinic in Colombia, she decided she wanted to champion education rights.

Melissa acknowledged that it took her a while to accept that development work happens over the course of time and that it takes a village. Yet she adds that it is important to maintain faith that people will do the right thing. She emphasizes the importance of staying committed even when results are slow because lasting change takes time. For example, she partnered with a law school in Colombia for a program that lasted three years, but took ten years to see its outcomes.

One of Melissa's most enriching professional experiences was working at American University’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. She spent eleven years there, working her way up, and eventually became its boss. She appreciated the ability to start by learning the basics and enjoyed making new contacts.

Melissa has also spent some time teaching at AU in hopes of others understanding and growing interest in her field. She mentioned that she had greatly benefited from her mentors, and she hopes to give back by helping others.

To Melissa, service means using whatever skills or experience you have to help different communities you are a part of.

Melissa Del Aguila also advises students interested in a career of service to be open to new opportunities because everyone has a different path. She highlights that achieving your goals begins with recognizing your passions and committing yourself to them.