By Razane Cherk
Her long dark hair framed her round, but grown-up 21-year-old face, as she sat on a chair with her eyes lost in contemplation – a true artist.
“I’m terrible at public-speaking,” said Meriem Mesraoua, a communication senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, who graduated on May 5th. “It’s ironic because I decided to go into communications, but the thing is that I’ve always been passionate about storytelling in all its ways and forms.”
Because of this, Mesraoua became very interested in film and theatre, preforming in two plays: one last year called Arab Awakening and this year in Medea, which was held in conjunction with Qatar Museums Authority as part of their Olympics Past and Present exhibition held in late April.
Mesraoua reflected on her experience in the play Medea and how she got into a role so foreign from her real-life experiences. “The challenge was to get into the character as I am only 21 and never been married, divorced, cheated on, or had children, nothing,” Mesraoua said.
“It was a matter of finding stories and ways to connect with that.” Mesraoua also got to shape Medea’s character into a form that fit her own personality. “Medea is known as a tragedy and you expect it to be very dark,” Mesraoua said. “But she [Professor Ann Woodworth] really took into consideration my personality, my being, who I was.” “She encouraged me to be more of myself; more humor, lighter moments at a few instances,” Mesraoua added.
“I’m more articulate visually, I suppose, than I am speaking-wise,” Mesraoua said. “So, that’s why I decided to focus on film and thanks to Ann Woodworth, I got to not let go of theatre.”
Ann Woodworth, associate professor in the communication program at Northwestern University in Qatar, has known Mesraoua since she was a freshman and says she has great things for her future.
“The heart of Meriem, I think, is the creative artist, wherever she decides to put her energy, she’s gonna create something,” Woodworth said. “I don’t see her as going off to develop as an actress; it’s too limiting for her. She’s got her own ideas.”
Motasem Kalaji, also a communications graduate, has known Mesraoua for four years and has grown very close to her during the last two years of working together. “Meriem is a very caring, loving and interesting friend,” Kalaji said.
“She is always there for you no matter what you need and she is such an honest person.” Woodworth said that Mesraoua has the traits to be successful in the future, whether she directs films or acts in them. “Two of Meriem’s strongest traits is the fact that she is a very deep thinker and she’s very compassionate,” Woodworth said. “I think those two qualities are requisites for building a successful career.”