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Juliana Maurice

Honors Leadership Studies

Mrs. Godfrey

11 December 2020

“I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban” Book

Report

Malala Yousafzai is a hero in the eyes of many. Not only was she shot by the Taliban, and

an activist for girl’s education, but Malala is an exceptional leader and role model for all ages.

Malala was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July 12, 1997 to her father Ziauddin Yousafzai and

mother TorPekai Yousafzai. Malala’s name means a girl who spoke up and was killed. Ziauddin

named his daughter Malala because he knew she would be different and make a change in the

world. The Yousafzaai’s family highly valued education, and believed it was a necessity in being

free. Although Torpekai was stripped away from her education at 5, Ziauddin was a great speaker

and was passionate enough about education to start up his own school with only $150. His goal

was to teach his students to rebel against typical customs and use their voice to speak up. From a

young age, the school was Malala’s home. Even as an eight year old girl Malala would give

lectures to a room full of imaginary people. In Swat Valley, the Radio Mullah would broadcast

across the town, typically preaching good news. However, once the Radio Mullah became

comfortable he began to use it for violence, and he broadcasted a message that girls shouldn’t be

going to school, and requested that all electronics be destroyed so that those who lived there

couldn’t see what was going on. After the assasination of Benazir Bhutto, the female prime
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minister, the Taliban had already bombed three girl’s schools in just one single night. No one

would speak up until in 2008, Malala gave a speech in front of the national press calling out the

Taliban. Malala was still going secretly to school, and she was asked by the British Broadcasting

Company to keep a diary of what life was like for a girl her age under Taliban rule in Swat

Valley. Malala chose to do this because it was safe and anonymous since she used a pseudonym,

Gul Makai, which she loved because her real name meant “grief stricken”.In her diary she would

write about what happened each day. In one of her logs she wrote “I’m scared…” talking about

how severe the violence of the Taliban was becoming.(I Am Malala, pg 78.) In 2009, as a result

of the Taliban taking over, Malala and her family had to move out of Swat Valley because the

Taliban had destroyed over 400 girls' schools. For three months the family moved from place to

place as if they were refugees in their own country. In 2011, after the death of Osama bin Laden,

Malala continued to speak out against the Taliban in interviews, and was nominated for many

humanitarian awards like the International Children’s Peace Prize. After Malala received The

Pakistan National Youth Peace Prize she became a target for the Taliban. In 2012, Malala was

secretly on her way to school and her school bus was stopped. Two members of the Taliban

jumped on the bus and asked “Who Is Malala?”. Malala responded with “I am Malala” and three

bullets shot at her, wounding the left side of her forehead. After the bus was attacked Malala was

rushed to the hospital in critical conditions. Her organs were failing, her brain was extremely

damaged and surgeons struggled to save her. She was then transported to the ICU in

Birmingham, England and she suffered from minor brain damage, and was paralyzed on her

entire left side of the face. In 2014 when Malala recovered she was not at peace with standing up

to the Taliban, and being shot so she decided to take action once again. When she heard about the

abduction of 200 Nigerian school girls she spoke up worldwide begging for her sisters to be
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freed. As Malala continued her work as an activist she published her autobiography; I am

Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban”. At seventeen

years old, Malala was the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is an

extraordinary leader and to this day continues to use her voice to be an advocate for women’s

rights. There is no doubt that Malala didn’t live up to her name meaning, separate, activist, and

different. Malala was born to make a change in the world. She strongly believed in humanity,

equality, and most importantly, forgiveness. When Malala recovered from the assanation attempt

in 2013, she was interviewed and asked if she was angry with the Taliban? Malala responded

with “ No, not even as small as an atom, or a nucleus…” (He Named Me Malala Documentary)

Malala never wanted revenge, but wanted an equal opportunity to educate everyone. She spoke

from within, from what's in her heart and soul, just like her father taught her. For this reason, so

many people were captivated by her and supported her. Malala made sure to see the light in the

darkness, and stick to her ambitions and dreams through everything. She remained honest and

direct while listening to thousands of people’s stories all over the world and becoming an

advocate for them at the same time. Malala experienced an immense amount of hate but never

once talked about her suffering. One of the most admirable qualities of Malala is her ability to

inspire others. She uses her voice for the greater good and to make that needed difference. The

most important thing I have learned from studying the leadership styles of Malala Yousafzai is

that sometimes there are moments where you need to choose whether or not to speak up or to be

silent. Malala Yousafzai is a pioneer of change and an extraordinary leader.

The autobiography about an admirable leader from Swat Valley, Pakistan called I Am Malala is

an exceptional book. I encourage everyone to read this book and I promise you will be inspired

by this young girl who lived through the violent bombings and attacks of the Taliban in the Swat
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Valley, survived three bullets to the head, and who shot by the Taliban. Malala Yousafzai’s

autobiography is evidence that teenagers can make a difference in our world today. The novel is

a vastly important reminder and an inguity, especially for my age group, to take stand against the

cruel acts of injustice of our world today.