Malala Yousafzai

Malala wins Nobel Peace Prize ( (http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/article2655438.html))

The Young Hero

"I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of  a son, while daughters are hidden behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children."(Yousafzai Malala, and Christina Lamb) states Malala Yousafzai in the beginning of her autobiography, I am Malala. Yousafzai was born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. Her mother's name was Toor Pekai. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was an educator who ran several private schools in Pakistan("Malala Yousafzai"). As a young teenager, Yousafzai campaigned for girls' education. In October 2012, She was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for her belief in women's rights. Recovered, she now lives in Birmingham, UK("Malala and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize"). As a young adult today, currently only 17 years old,Yousafzai has made a significant impact on our lives today, educating us about the struggles of those in other parts of the world. Characteristics that follow a hero are their courageousness, grit and a passionate belief in what is right. In her endeavors, Malala Yousafzai is truly a symbol of heroism through not only her acts of bravery and perseverance, but also through her vast achievements.

Yousafzai first speaks to public after being shot (http://www.unicef.org/education/bege_69820.html (Chris Niles))

Yousafzai exemplifies bravery through her unshattered beliefs, endeavors, and grit even in most dire of moments. In 2012, the Taliban, an organization in which enforced laws of mistreatment to the women and girls.Within Swat Valley, the Taliban enforced that girls could no longer attend school.  As an activist for education, Malala "...spoke out against the restrictions. She began writing a blog for BBC Urdu under a pseudonym, Gul Makai, in 2009,"("Malala and Kailash"). It is evident that this quote displays courageousness within the young woman, although the Taliban had banned all girls from their rights to education, she stood up for herself in the face of misogyny and continued to attend school. She also demonstrated bravery through her actions of continuing her education acknowledging the fact that she is not only sacrificing her own life, but also her family's lives. On that tragic day, Yousafzai was shot in the head and shoulder on her way home from school. "Three weeks after the shooting, a spokesman for the Pakistani government said Yousafzai was asking for her school books"("Malala Yousafzai"). Yousafzai's reaction to such an event demonstrates her bravery through her continued perseverance even after such a traumatic experience. Her response also exemplifies bravery because although she faced the Taliban and was even shot by their gunmen, Yousafzai's persistence remained unshattered.Through her perseverance and strong will even at the most difficult times, Malala truly proves herself as a valor hero.

Yousafzai's perseverance and endeavors of a hero are exemplified through her vast number of achievements although still in her youth. In return for her endeavors within educational rights as a child, Yousafzai was nominated in 2011 for the International Children's Peace Prize by the KidsRights Foundation. In addition, Yousafzai was awarded the National Peace Award by the Pakistani government. The award was later renamed Nation Malala Peace Prize for recipients under the age of 18 years"("Profile: Malala Yousafzai"). Yousafzai's strong beliefs in educational rights prove that she is a hero through her endeavors for education, as shown through her achievements for children's rights. She is also recognized for striving towards justice regardless of her age. In October, 2014, Yousafzai achieved a prestige achievement for her efforts: "...the Nobel committee announced that Yousafzai has been selected to receive the 2014 Peace Prize. [becoming] the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner for her 'heroic struggle' in speaking out for the right of girls to education"("Malala Yousafzai"). She has received such recognition for her perseverance and struggles towards the freedom for girls' education. In addition, Yousafzai demonstrates that she does not allow her age stop her from her endeavors for justice of others. Thorbjorn Jagland, the chairman of Norwegian Nobel Committee, pays tribute to the young activist Yousafzai, inaugurated as spokesperson for girls' education. Jagland states that despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai fought several years for girls' rights to education and therefore she demonstrates that the youth have the power to change their own problems for the better.("Malala and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize"). As Jagland states, Yousafzai's efforts are not broken by boundaries such as her youth. She has devoted years into her endeavor for girls' rights for education, sacrificing herself for the education of others and to break the Taliban law, oppressing girls from their education and a bright future. Like a hero, Yousafzai strives for a peaceful culture as exemplified within the titles she has achieved, and has persevered for the educational rights for girls.  

"Pakistan's torchbearer for girls' education" (http://time.com/70822/malala-yousafzai-2014-time-1 (Gabrielle Giffords))

Malala Yousafzai prevails as an influential hero through her courageousness and achievements. Even in dire moments, Yousafzai continues her duty to fight for girls' education. Her values and devotion have brought her to many achievements recognizing her as a young, yet powerful leader. Yousafzai's valiant beliefs in girls' education and perseverance demonstrate her fervent passion for justice. Yousafzai truly inspires us all to continue to strive towards a better education for everyone and to stand up for our beliefs regardless of what may come. "I have the right of education," she told CNN in 2011. "I have the right to play. I have the right to sing. I have the right to talk. I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up" ("Malala Yousafzai"). Yousafzai states that everyone has the right to speak up for their justice regardless of age  or gender. She educates us about her triumph from all her struggles to inspire us to strive for our success as well. "I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday. (Yousafzai, Malala)" says Yousafzai. In a place hardly known for peace and liberty, Yousafzai sacrificed herself and all else for her deserved rights and significance as the influential young woman she is. In her endeavors and struggles, Malala Yousafzai is my hero.

Work Cited

"Malala and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize." BBC News. BBC, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 30  

Jan. 2015.

"Malala Yousafzai." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Biography in Context.

Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

"Profile: Malala Yousafzai." BBC News. BBC, 10 Dec. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.

Yousafzai, Malala, and Christina Lamb. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood up forEducation and Was Shot

by the Taliban. 2013.,Little, Brown and Company. Print.