My New Hero

Yesterday was Malala Yousafzai's 16th birthday. How sweet it was! Malala is the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban because of her desire and campaign for girls' right to an education. She is a survivor, a visionary, a fighter, a dreamer, a courageous, and remarkable 16-year-old. She spoke in front of the United Nations on her birthday about the need for free, compulsory education for all children around the world. "I speak not for myself but for those without voice ... those who have fought for their rights -- their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated."

I hope that world leaders will listen to her plea. I hope that they will stand up to the injustice of women and children, and their right to be educated and to be treated the same as men and boys. Malala is my new hero!