Throughout the history of storytelling, there have always been storybook characters that inspire and motivate young readers to become more engaged and knowledgeable about the struggles that some people go through. Reading has always been a pastime of mine; while reading I collect new friends in wonderful places that otherwise I could only dream of. Each of these characters that I have befriended and connected with over the years, has shaped my personality in some way or another, and choosing just one seems an impossible task. Although women’s rights have skyrocketed in the past century, overall the world is still predominately male-orientated, but the world of books has no bounds for inspirational women. Countless authors have written books with strong female leads, most of them fiction, but nonetheless inspirational. When choosing the most influential to me, I could start by writing about the character that first allowed me to immerse myself in the world of the written language, Nancy Drew. Or I could write about the character that allowed me to feel comfortable with being unique and intelligent, Hermione Granger. But I won’t go into those clichés, the book character that has inspired me more than the heroines starring in the hundreds of books that I’ve read is real life Super Girl, Malala Yousafzai.
Malala Yousafzai released her memoir, I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban in 2013, recounting her struggles as a schoolgirl oppressed by the Taliban while living in Pakistan. For those who may not be familiar with her story, Malala became an undercover correspondent for BBC at the age of 12, writing about her thoughts on the ongoing war and how the Taliban was frightfully forcing the girls in ...
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...faced was fighting with my seven siblings over the bathroom before school in the morning. I, along with many other people my age, take living in America for granted. We have simple amenities like running water, roofs over our heads, freedom to speak our opinions, and a great education system to help enhance our ever growing minds. We have it made in America compared to some in less fortunate countries, who don’t even have a tenth of the comforts we do. After hearing Malala’s struggles, I, albeit being older than her, look up to her for words of wisdom. She has taught me that age doesn’t determine wisdom, life experiences do. She has also taught me that speaking up against injustices is the only way to rise up against them. “Let us pick up our books and our pens, they are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
First, Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani civil rights activist fighting for equal education in her country. Both Malala and her father, who ran a school close to their house, were threatened by the Taliban to stop allowing girls to go to the school and stop speaking outright about equal rights. However, Malala was already an advocate for girls education, writing on a BBC blog under a pseudonym, and neither her nor her father would back down. As a result, the Taliban attacked Malala’s bus one day as she was going to school, singling her out, the terrorists shot her three times and injured some of her friends. Although she
Malala started her heroic journey when she started blogging under a pen name “Gul Makai” how life is with the Taliban for the BBC. She knew that by doing this she was taking a risk, but for her, the risk was worth it if she could get girls to have an education. She was able to go back to school when
The novel I am Malala tells the story of a pakistani girl named Malala Yousafzai, where she illustrates her story of her life and her movements towards women’s rights and girls education. Being the youngest candidate for the nobel prize, Malala inspires a multitude of girls, women, and social activist all around. She fights to create a generation who thrives in education and who lives truly how they should live in. Therefore, Malala wields surreal imagery to illustrate her events, utilizes drastic pathos to compel the readers into action, and excessive juxtaposition to contrast the American society to hers.
Most adolescentes dread Mondays because they signify the start of the school week. They complain about all the work they need to do, and how they have very little free time, but they do not realize how fortunate they are to have an education, and how many people would love to be in their place. A good education is not easily accessible in many countries, especially for girls. When Malala Yousafzai encountered this problem, she began to work tirelessly to fix it, which has made her one of the most respected education activists in the world. She often used civil disobedience to create positive changes in society. Yousafzai’s childhood, advocacy in Pakistan, and more recent actions are all significant parts of her character and her journey to
Yousafzai, Malala, and Christina Lamb. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. New York: Little, Brown and, 2013. Print.
The autobiography I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai begins with the scene of young pakistani education and women’s rights activist Malala being shot in the head. Her school bus had been stopped by the Taliban who, after asking which of the girls was Malala, put a bullet into her head. Malala ends the powerful prologue with the words “Who is Malala? I am Malala and this is my story” (9). Malala then rewinds to the story of her birth and how in Pakistan, no one congratulated her parents when she was born because she was a girl. Pakistani culture pushes for the birth of a boy as an islamic majority country. However, her father saw the potential in his daughter as a great leaser and named her after one of the great female leaders in Pakistan- Malalai of Maiwand who inspired the Afghan people, who were losing hope, to spur the army to victory against the British/Indian forces. Malala describes life in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan. She outlines the Indian- Pakistan revolution and the shift of the Pashtun people into the Swat Valley. Malala’s father grew up in Shahpur but struggled to get his education in the town where he met Malala’s mother. They married and his dream of building a school, Khushal Public School, became reality when they moved into Mingora.
Strength, power and courage was born.” Malala continued to lead activist groups and conferences after being shot. She demonstrates persistence by continuing to speak out about the importance of access to education for women. In her grew courage, bravery and
This relates back to the idea of standing up for what you believe. It teaches us that just because people say something is wrong, it doesn't mean that it is wrong. People around Malala and her family at that time were against education because they were afraid of the Taliban and agreed with everything they said. However, Malala was intelligent, concentrated and fierce. When everyone told her not to, she did what she thought was right.
In protest to this, Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl, refused to follow these rules, and even began a blog for the British Broadcasting Corporation, detailing her life under Taliban rule. In response to her protest, a gunman approached her, and shot her three times. This assassination attempt started a global movement in support of Yousafzai and her beliefs. Like Thoreau, Gandhi, King, and Yousafzai, one must realize when others are being oppressed and take action against those in power who oppress the people they rule. Otherwise, there will never be change, and the world will never see justice.
In I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, the main character Ed is a nineteen-year-old cab driver in Australia who has never amounted to anything. One day, while with his three best friends, an event occurs that forever changes his life. While in a bank, they are held up at gunpoint. Ed ends up stopping the criminal and saving the day. Days later, as the bank robber’s trial is ending, he tells Ed that he is “a dead man… [And to] [r]emember it every day when [he] look[s] in the mirror” (Zusak 38). This overlooked statement by the reader comes back in the end of the novel to reveal an important message that “everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of” (535). Before attending the trial though, Ed begins to receive playing cards with addresses, names, times, and movie titles on them that require him to complete tasks, which challenge him in more ways than he could ever imagine. In the short story “Good People” by David Foster Wallace, the two characters, Lane and Sheri, are faced with a situation that changes their lives as well; Sheri is pregnant with Lane’s baby. Even though Lane’s and Sheri’s situation is a little different than that of Ed’s, they relate greatly as all the characters are forced to make decisions that can alter the rest of their lives. In the novel, morality is used to accomplish self-discovery and growth of Ed’s personality by pushing his boundaries, and in the short story “Good People” by David Foster Wallace, morality is used to accomplish growth and the realization of consequences of one’s actions by placing the young couple in a faith questioning situation no adolescent wants to face.
Malala, an activist warrior, tell her autobiography how she fought for her and women’s rights to have an education in her country. Ziauddin, Malala’s father, an activist who believe everybody should have an education also helps his daughter to fight and speak out against the Taliban for women’s rights. Malala illustrates how the Taliban would punished those who spoke against them, but also women that would break the rules. Malala would describe how she would fear for her own life, yet later her father helped her out change her views towards death. In October 9, 2012 Malala was shot three times in the head by a Taliban man, while she was in the bus coming back from a field trip.
In “My Two Lives” Jhumpa Lahiri talks about her hardship growing up in America coming from two different cultures. At home she spoke Bengali with her parents, ate with her hands. According to Jhumpa’s parents she was not American and would never be. This led her to become ashamed of her background. She felt like she did not have to hide her culture anymore. When Jhumpa got married in Calcutta she invited her American friends that never visited India. Jhumpa thought her friends would judge from being part of the Indian culture and isolate her.However her friends were intrigued by her culture and fascinated. She felt like her culture should not be hidden from her friends anymore, and that coming from an Indian-American culture is unique. Jhumpa believes that her upbringing is the reason why she is still involved with her Bengali culture. Jhumpa says“While I am American by virtue of the fact that I was raised in this country, I am Indian thanks to the efforts of two individuals.” Jhumpa means that she is Indian, because she lived most of her life and was raised here. In the story Lahiri explains that her parents shaped her into the person she is. Growing up coming from two different cultures can be difficult, but it can also be beneficial.
Since she was 11 years old, Malala has been writing a blog on the Urdu BBC website to show her hope and determination to become a doctor in spite of her fear against the Taliban. Her story of courageous actions created a big sensation in the public(weird grammar). From then on, she is referred to as a symbol of courage and inspiration for all young women, who want to relish the chance to go to school.
Readers get a distinct perspective from the educational systems they have had for their entire life. “Her perspective is quite different considering her education has been taken away. She feels very strongly about all women having the opportunity to be educated and does not let that go.” Answered Kayla with direct eye contact, putting more thought as the question proceeded. “An American would be different because they have education in their hands different from Malala and her peers.”
I am Malala by Christina Lamb is a novel I recommend for people of all ages, particularly high school students. Malala shows that one person can truly make a difference. I am Malala is about a young girl, Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban for defending women’s right to an education. The main objective of Malala’s story is to raise awareness about the women of Pakistan’s struggle for education. The Taliban shot Malala to silence her, unfortunately for them, her voice grew louder. Many people disliked the book because of the extensive overview of Pakistan’s history. The overview was seen as unnecessary, while I believe it was necessary. How else would the reader know of the previous struggle of corruption in the