One day while I was at school there was fighting in Kabul between the Taliban and the police. I was thirteen years old and in seventh grade. The attack occurred in a big building near school and although I couldn’t see it, I heard the gunfire and explosions close by. All of my classmates at school were crying and asking one another, “What to do now?” We didn’t know what the attack was about, but we knew we might live or we might die.
Soon all of the families came to take their daughters from school. My mother came to get me. It was dangerous for her because the police didn’t allow her to travel by car or bus. I didn’t know she was coming but as we left the school together, I knew that I had to be strong.
All night long we heard the fighting. No one could sleep and all of my family wondered whether we would be alive in the morning. We all huddled in one room. I could hear police cars rush past our house with their sirens but I felt strong with family around me. We all prayed.
We heard on the news the next day that only a few people were killed. I was so grateful when it finally stopped. I was happy to have survived and happy to go back to school. Although the experience made me stronger, I learned how much Afghanistan really needs help and I started to think about how I could help my country. Unfortunately, this was not the first time I heard fighting in the streets. Each day, I believe that there must be something new we can do as a people to stop this kind of violence.
I believe the problem with Afghanistan is lack of education. I want to become a teacher. I want to support women’s rights and become a teacher who trains other teachers. If I can train forty student-teachers in a class, then each of them will go on to teach forty other students per class. I will be able to help my country in this way. It is not just about surviving the Taliban. Everything in Afghanistan makes me braver and stronger. I will live my life, no matter what happens.
By Madia, age 14
Photo by Phil Borges.
Dear Madia: I am deeply moved by your essay. It is very painful to read of you and your family in that fear and uncertainty. Yes, without security–without the strong walls of the home or the society at large–it’s hard for everyone inside to blossom. But I am heartened and hopeful reading your words. I especially appreciated this:
“I believe the problem with Afghanistan is lack of education. I want to become a teacher. I want to support women’s rights and become a teacher who trains other teachers. If I can train forty student-teachers in a class, then each of them will go on to teach forty other students per class. I will be able to help my country in this way. It is not just about surviving the Taliban. Everything in Afghanistan makes me braver and stronger.”
So wise. Please keep up the excellent work!
Brava, Madia!
Stacy
Thank you, Madia for all of the hard work you did on this very powerful piece. I can’t imagine how enormously difficult it was for you and your family to endure. Your goals are courageous and inspiring. I deeply believe that you will do much to help build a richer, more peaceful country. It is such an honor to work with you. Thanks again!
Olivia
Maria,
It makes me sad to know you and so many others do not live in a peaceful world but I am inspired by your wish to do something positive to help make your world more peaceful. You do not speak of revenge but of education and understanding. You are wise to choose that path. May you live to see your dreams fulfilled.
Love and blessings to you.
Judy
Dear Madia,
You seem very brave. I think that being a teacher who encourages Afghan girls and women to insist on their rights as human being is an extremely important job. I hope you train hundreds of teachers. You are the hope for Afghanistan’s future.
Good luck!
Suzanne
Oh, Madia! Please keep strong. Your dreams for the future will help the entire world!
Please write more for all of us!!
Kathy
Madia,
I admire your wish to help your country. And your belief that helping it by teaching is a wise one. You already show an understanding of how many people can be reached by one teacher. As a teacher of many years experience, I feel that you will make an outstanding teacher yourself. Keep pursuing this worthy goal!
Su Ellen
Thank you for sharing this incredibly inspiring story with us. Maida, you are so strong and brave as you say you are. We cant even imagine how frightening that must have been. What you want to achieve in life, becoming a teacher is an amazing choice to make and will help Afghanistan in the future.
Dear Madia,
Thank you for such a strong and inspiring story. I believe what you want to be when you grow up is amazing and you should definitely go for it. Wanting to support women’s rights at such a young age is very powerful and makes me admire you actions. Stay strong and you will succeed in becoming a teacher.
Hi Maida,
“but as we left school together, I knew we had to be strong.”
Your inspiring story has taught me to stand up for myself and to be strong for those around me, because they need the support, you taught me to have faith and to live for my family, and for that I am grateful, be strong
Much Alofa 🙂
Madia,
It is very inspiring to see someone take a negative situation and change it to try to help. If everyone had your mindset, we would have no problems in the world. You seem to have a very mature view on the world and how to deal with problems. I also love your idea of the chain reaction of teachers. Stay strong and don’t lose hope.
Jonathan
Dear Madia,
It’s heartbreaking knowing that children are so accustomed to war and violence. That should not be normal for students trying to learn and improve their futures. You are very strong and mature due to the situations you have been forced into. The people of Afghanistan are struggling with the right to be free and safe due to the war and current events. Your plan for the rise of education is a great idea to improve your society and to make sure that more students have a bright future ahead of them. It gives them something else to worry about instead of when the next bomb is going to go off.
Dear Madia,
It’s heartbreaking knowing that children are so accustomed to war and violence. That should not be normal for students trying to learn and improve their futures. You are very strong and mature due to the situations you have been forced into. The people of Afghanistan are struggling with the right to be free and safe due to the war and current events. Your plan for the rise of education is a great idea to improve your society and to make sure that more students have a bright future ahead of them. It gives them something else to worry about instead of when the next bomb is going to go off.