Like many of the female juniors at Annandale High School, Malala Yousafzai is a 17 year old who expresses her ideas and attends school regularly.

What seperates Yousafzai from others is her determination and courage which lead her to do and accomplish incredible things. Yousafzai was born in Mingora, Pakistan and attended a school which her father had founded.

Once the Taliban began attacking girls schools Yousafzai made a speech in Peshawar, Pakistan and became known worldwide for her advocation for the right to an education.

Yousafzai continued to speak out against the Taliban and in order to protect herself, she used a fake name and blogged under the BBC about the Taliban’s treatment towards citizens in 2009.

With growing support, she began speaking out more for women’s right to an education, and in 2011 she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and the Pakistan National Youth Peace Prize.

After she recovered from being shot in the head by the Taliban, she went on to make a speech at the United Nations. 

Yousafzai continues to make speeches and tell her story to the world and in October 2014 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She also addressed the United Nations on her 16th birthday and spoke about educational rights for children. 

She also published a memoir “I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World.” Although Malala is very passionate about advocating for girls’ education she originally wanted to be a doctor. 

Malala Yousafzai is interested in the importance of education bcause of her father, Ziauddian Yousafzai.  He is a 10th grade school master.  Her fahter ran one of last schools that defie the Taliban’s orders on not to educate girls.  This was one of the things that encouraged Malala to speak out against the Taliban. Malala currently lives in England, and conitinues to spend her time advocating for girls educational rights.