Being shot in the face and seriously injured did not stop Malala Yousafzai from pursuing her dreams. She morally disagreed with her government's treatment of women, so she fought for her beliefs. Malala grew up in a rural village in Pakistan and was forced to follow customs she didn't believe in. The Swat Valley became a village that was strictly governed and discriminated against women. Malala raised awareness around the world about this situation and defended her right to education. Through the painful experience of Malala Yousafzai, growing up in a dangerous region of Pakistan, she has raised awareness in the hope of regaining women's right to education. Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997. She lived in the Swat Valley in Mingora, Pakistan. (http://www.biography.com) Pakistan is located on the Arabian Sea in South Asia. Malala attended Khushal Girls' School, founded by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai. Malala's father was her biggest inspiration to become an activist for women's and children's rights in the future. (Malala's dream: a courageous teenager from Pakistan…) The Swat Valley was not always what it is today. Before, it was “quaint”. It was not only a popular honeymoon destination, but the Swat Valley was known for its music and its tolerance towards its people. (The Taliban girl who defended women's rights) But in 2007, everything changed. The Swat Valley has been hit by the Taliban's strict new rules. It has become a dangerous and overwhelming place. Television and music were banned for everyone and the situation was even worse for women. They could no longer hold a job, go to school and go shopping. (Malala's dream: a courageous teenager from Pakistan…) Women were isolated. Ziauddin Yousafzai's girls' school was one of ...... middle of paper ...... beyond Malala's choice to defend her beliefs. This left her in the hospital with greater expectations for herself in the future. The Taliban also continue to exert their influence, putting many innocent people at risk. But even today, Malala still speaks out against the Taliban and insists on her rights and opportunities and those of every woman. Works Cited Bubar, Joe. "Malala's Dream: A courageous teenager from Pakistan almost lost her life defending the right of girls around the world to receive an education." Sholastic News/Weekly Reader Edition 4 November 18, 2013: 4+ Student Edition Web. April 10, 2014. “Taliban girl shot dead who stood up for rights.” New York Times. Np, October 9, 2012. Web. April 10, 2014. “Malala Yousafzai.” 2014. The Biography.com website. April 24, 2014. http://www.biography.com/people/malala-yousafzai-21362253.Yousafzai, Malala. speech. July 12 2013