Intro to Leadership

Who Inspires Me?

Malala Yousafzai

Introduction
Malala Yousafzai is an inspirational leader who fought not only for her personal
right to be educated, but for the right of all women.

Malala Yousafzai was born in Mingora, Pakistan. Early in Malalas life, Mingora was a
popular tourist destination, but that changed when the taliban took control. The taliban
also began to target girls schools. Malala had an education at a school her father founded,
in 2008 Malala gave a speech about the taliban and the wrongness of their taking away
basic education. The next year Malala blogged anonymously for BBC, but was revealed as
the blogger. Malala began to create a platform and continued being an activist for women's
right to be educated. In 2011 she was nominated for the international children's peace
prize, and won the pakistan national youth peace prize.
Malalas father was an anti taliban activist and when malala was 14 the taliban
issued a death threat against her. Though Malala was scared she and her family believed
not even the taliban would injure no less kill a child. In 2012 a man boarded Malala's bus
on the way home from school. Malala was shot in her head and the bullet traveled down to
her neck. There were also two other girls injured in this devastating attack. After the
shooting, Malala was left in critical condition. She was eventually flown to England where
she would be treated. Malala endured many surgeries, one which helped the paralyzed half
of her face.
By 2013 Malala was strong enough to begin school again. After the shooting Malala
also gained very much support and a following. On Malalas 16 birthday, Malala was able to
give a speech to the united nations, she also wrote a book about her story. Despite the
taliban's continuing threats, Malala continued her work and activism. Malala was
nominated for a nobel peace prize twice, and in 2014 she became the youngest person
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ever to win the prize. On october 2015, a documentary about Malala's life will be released
called He Named Me Malala.
Malala is a perfect example of a leader. Malala knew what she believed was right
since since she was just a young child and she stuck to it through her whole life. She not
only stood up for herself but for the right of girls and children everywhere to have a right to
be educated. Malala did not cower when she found out the taliban issued a death threat,
instead she fought even harder. She even fought after she was shot in the head. Malala is
a real inspiration to everyone.

Citations:

"Malala Yousafzai Biography." Bio.com. Accessed September 25, 2015.