Know the Aztecs: Dayan Delgado

By Isaiah Gomez

Our own school has a wide variety of unique and wonderful personalities that paint our hallways. Everyone one of us has a story worth sharing. Junior Dayan Delgado, is serious about her studies as an IB student. She also happens to be Muslim at a time when scrutiny and misunderstandings surround their community.

Isaiah Gomez: “What’s your daily life like?

Dayan Delgado: “As a Muslim who no longer wears hijab (the headscarf I used to wear), I find myself constantly explaining my identity to people. In a Muslim woman’s life, hijab is a part of her identity to distinguish herself amongst the citizens, so sometimes people don’t believe I’m Muslim because I don’t wear it all the time.”

Gomez: How Do You Feel About Wearing Hijab?

Dayan: “I started wearing the hijab in the fifth grade I lived in Austin, which was a pretty much different environment than here. People in Austin are more diverse and aware of the different people out there. When I moved to El Paso in the 7th grade, the people here only see so much diversity. When I moved here and was wearing a hijab, people showed me their ignorant side. They would call me “Osama bin Laden’s daughter” or “towel head”. Half way between the years, I decided to remove my veil. This was so sad for me because it was like a part of me was taken away.”

Gomez: “How do feel about the hateful speech that has increased toward Islam right now? Especially, with everything that happened in the election?”

Dayan: “It’s scary. It’s like a big pimple of hatred has been popped. And when someone in such a high chair (the president) decides to reveal his emotions or opinions of people of different religions or backgrounds, it gives people more leeway to express their own hatred, even if it means hurting someone.”