An Evening with Shiza Shahid Extra Credit

I attended the Go Big Read event on October 27th that featured Shiza Shahid as a speaker. Shiza is the CEO and co-founder of the Malala Fund, a campaign for girls' education and to empower girls to raise their voices, to unlock their potential, and to demand change. She left her home country, Pakistan, to attend Stanford University where she reached out to Malala Yousafzai her sophomore year. Malala is the author of the book I Am Malala and is an inspiration to millions. Malala was eleven years old when the Taliban took over her village in Pakistan and didn't allow her to go to school. She spoke out against the Taliban and fought for her right to an education, leading to her being shot point-blank in the head by the Taliban. She miraculously survived and went on to inspire the world with her story and beliefs. At fifteen years old, she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Shiza talks about four lessons: growth and discovery, using our power to change, living a life full of passion, and constantly creating and innovating. She talks about expanding what we know and believe is a fundamental responsibility. Shiza emphasized that if something is wrong in the world, we have the power to change it. Change won't come suddenly, but is gradual and takes the voices of many to break the status quo. At the end of her presentation, she said she wants us to remember that we are strong. Stronger than our fears and stronger than what holds us back. Her presentation was very powerful and I was very glad I went.