ABAD Day 5: The Difference Education Makes

Yesterday was #MalalaDay. What on earth is Malala Day? Its Malala's 16th Birthday. Who is Malala again? A 16-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot together with her friends last year. They were shot for going to school.

As ridiculous that sounds, the Taliban went to murder a bunch of kids because they desired knowledge and learning.

Anyways, going back to Malala's story, I first saw this video reposted by World Bank yesterday but simply went past it. It only caught my attention when B School guru Marie Forleo shared the same link and called it a must-watch. Here is a link on Malala Yousafzai's video addressing the UN Youth Assembly.

You can read the full speech here. The simple and humbling words uttered by this young lady gave emphasis on our most potent weapon against poverty and abuse: education. It reignited my drive for education not just for myself but for those who needs the most basic of it.

In a culture where women does not share the same rights and privileges of men, Malala has proven that the importance of education should not be undermined and limited by beliefs and tradition and threats, especially when the welfare of an entire generation rests on it.

Perception and Education

Perception is a powerful thing. This is the way we see things and the way we see things affects everything else - our thoughts and actions. It may not be the main force behind everything we do but it certainly affects our preferences and decisions.

Our perception of education is also important. The value we place on the important role it plays and empowerment it provides dictates the emphasis and importance we place on education as a necessity in every person regardless of his age, race or religion.

Formal training and knowledge, even in its most basic forms has enabled men and women from all over the world to achieve something great. While the privilege of education cannot be attained by most, its foundations - the ability to read and right, to count and reason is, if not should be a universal right. These abilities may not allow them to conquer the world, but it will allow them to not be conquered by the world. It will give them a fighting chance to try and eventually succeed.

Passion for Education

When we are truly aware of the importance of education and the limitless possibilities it offers us, we only do not value it. We develop a deeper yearning and passion for learning that will not only allow us to get ahead or stay on top but a driving force and motivation that ranks fairly higher than success. 

I am talking about a passion the same passion that fueled Malala's drive to go to school despite the dangers that she faced. It is a passion that can go well beyond the required education to land a decent job and make a living but a passion for a lifelong learning - from the newest technologies, the most followed apps to the wisdom of the sages. Its that  kind of learning that never ceases not out of necessity or compliance but because of plain want and the satisfaction fulfillment brings. 

A light from a girl

Malala...she was shot last year. I have not heard of her until today but the words she spoke, as plain and simple as they are, struck something deep and sparked within me not a passion for learning but a passion for sharing learnings.

She taught me something new today, something I somehow already knew yet haven't paid that much attention to and it made a whole world of difference when one is trying to achieve a sense of meaning.