Author: Sara Karimi
In a dusty alleyway of Kabul, a girl named Nadia lived with big dreams and a heart full of sorrow. From a young age, she knew that education and university were the only way to escape poverty, unemployment, family struggles, discrimination, and social inequalities. Nadia was born into a humble and poor family in a hidden corner of Kabul, where girls were mostly raised to do household chores and get married rather than pursue academic dreams. But Nadia thought differently, imagined differently, and saw the world through a unique lens.
She attended school despite being criticized for being a girl. Many told her that education was unnecessary for girls, that they should stay at home and learn the customs of marriage and domestic life. Yet, from childhood, Nadia was determined to prove that girls could have big dreams, create change, and transform society. Her teachers recognized her as a hardworking and intelligent student. She excelled in all her subjects, and some of her classmates envied her. At home, her parents encouraged her, especially her father—a simple cart vendor—who believed in his daughter’s bright future. He would always say, “The world does not belong only to men. My daughter must become someone who brings great change.”
After years of struggle and overcoming social restrictions, Nadia finally succeeded in passing the university entrance exam. She was admitted to Kabul University to study economics, her passion. Her first days at university felt like a dream. With bright eyes and a heart full of hope, she attended classes enthusiastically. She was known among her classmates not only for her academic excellence but also for her determination, mindset, and perseverance.
But her happiness did not last long. In the year when she was at the peak of her success, everything in Afghanistan changed. Once again, sorrow and pain took over her heart. The ruling regime returned to power, and one by one, universities and schools for girls were shut down. Nadia, who had fought for years to reach this moment, now faced an insurmountable wall of oppression and restrictions. Instead of sitting in classrooms and learning, she was forced to stay at home, reminiscing about her bright past and shedding tears over lost opportunities.
Days felt endless, blending into nights. Nadia was confined to her home, but she never lost hope. She vowed that as long as she breathed, she would never abandon her pursuit of knowledge and dreams. At night, when her family slept, she would take out her books and study under the dim light of her lamp—the only source of brightness in her dark world. Books became her closest companions, giving her hope that maybe, one day, she could return to university. “The light of knowledge, passion, and effort still shines in my dark world, and hope remains alive in my heart,” she told herself.
Even when she saw the sorrow in her parents’ eyes, knowing they felt helpless about her future, she remained strong. She believed that within every hardship, an opportunity was hidden. But sometimes, she wondered—would the world ever make enough space for a girl’s dreams?
One difficult day, a knock on the door shattered the silence. Nadia rose from her books, hearing footsteps approaching. The voices of men grew louder as they neared her home. Her heart pounded. She knew the authorities had come. In that moment, memories of her university days flashed before her eyes like a film. Fear gripped her, but deep inside, something told her she must keep going, even if she could never return to her studies.
The regime’s forces entered their home, bringing nothing but threats and fear. Their orders were clear: “Girls must stay at home and do household chores. There is no place for you in schools and universities anymore.”
At that moment, for the first time, Nadia told herself, “Even if I cannot study in this closed world, no one can take my dreams away from me. As long as hope lives in my heart, I am still free.”
That night, as she sat with her family, lost in memories, she made a silent promise: if the world ever gave her a chance, she would fight for all the girls in Afghanistan who were deprived of education. Nadia may not have returned to university that night, but her spirit and hope remained alive—in the hearts of all the girls who longed for freedom and education.
And someday, in an unknown future, perhaps from behind these towering walls of oppression, the voices of girls like Nadia will rise—voices that the world will finally hear.
