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Pakistani activist for female education and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai is so wise and well-spoken, it's easy to forget just how young she is.
In fact, the 19-year-old graduated from high school just this week, but she's not heading off on a senior beach trip. Instead, Yousafzai kicked off post-grad life by joining Twitter to share some reflections on what the milestone means to her — and planning a #GirlPowerTrip to continue her work.
"Graduating from secondary school (high school) is bittersweet for me," wrote Yousafzai on Twitter. "I'm excited about my future, but I know that millions of girls around the world are out of school and may never get the opportunity to complete their education."
She continued, "Next week, I will be back on my #GirlPowerTrip to meet girls in Middle East, Africa & Latin America. Each girl’s story is unique — and girls' voices are our most powerful weapons in the fight for education and equality. On and off Twitter, I'm fighting for girls — will you join me?"
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Oct. 22, 201600:21Yousafzai also gave a more in-depth account of her personal education journey on her blog.
"The Taliban took over our beautiful home in Swat Valley and declared a ban on girls’ education," she recalled. "Our teachers told us to stop wearing our uniforms because it wasn’t safe ... When my family fled our home, I worried I was leaving behind more than books and pens — I feared I was leaving behind my dreams for the future."
She finished, "I will never forget how it felt to have my future taken away from me ... I promise to keep fighting until the day that every girl can put on her uniform, pack up her books and walk to school without fear."
Powerful words from a powerful woman. Congratulations, Malala! We can't wait to see what's next for you.