Dear Pitch editors,

A couple of days ago I read the article “What’s more important, US
Weekly or U.S. Weekly?” And I thought to myself, it is so sad how
there are so many things going on in this world but we don’t know
about them. Or go looking for them. This is why I wanted to write this
letter to the editor. I wanted to call attention to someone who is a
truly amazing person, and she’s only sixteen! Malala Yousafzai is a
young woman from the Pakistan’s Swat Valley, an idyllic spot which
resembles Switzerland in appearence. But one thing that Switzerland
never had was the Taliban. The Taliban took residence in her beloved town,
and with them came the bans on education for girls. At age eleven,
Yousafzai understood that the best way to free a young girl from
oppression was to make sure she was educated. She began writing a blog
detailing her views and life while under Taliban rule. Having touched
the hearts and minds of many; she appeared in a documentary a year
later. She became recognized as a symbol for a cause far larger than
herself, and in turn became a threat to the fanatics. Word started to
spread that she was in danger. But having the idea that her encounter
with Taliban fanatics would be a peaceful and open-minded one, she went
along with her life not considering the threat to be a very dangerous
one. Then in 2012, she was on the school bus coming home, when a
would-be Taliban assassin shot Malala in the head and neck. She was
rushed to a hospital in England, where they immediately put her into
surgery. The doctors said that the bullet passed through her head and
lodged near her spinal cord. She recovered with minimal damage but a
stronger voice. Having expected her to die or at least give up her
fight, the Taliban had not expected for her voice and crusade against
female oppression to explode as it did. Now she has toured the world,
stood on important stages, and is telling men and women, boys and
girls, that they all are equal. I first heard of Malala on News on
night, and was instantly inspired by her and her movement. Having been
brought in a household with a conservative Muslim father, I felt like
I could understand her fight and could relate to the fire in side of
her. Being a feminist and also having been brought up half Muslim had
seemed like a contradiction and a waste of my time in the past. But
now having heard of her fight and of how empowering she is to people
around the world. I feel a new sense of pride and strength inside of
me. Her message is one that is truly amazing. And that earns her the
right of most famous teenager in the world. But, have you heard of her
yet?

Signed,

Sophia Fakri

Grade 10