Malala Yousafzai was born as the Taliban began its rise to power. The Islamic fundamentalist group, lead by Maulana Fazlullah, settled in Swat Valley in Northern Pakistan, where Malala lived. Over the years it waged war with Muslims in Afghanistan and surrounding regions who they deemed ‘unorthodox’ in their religion. Her father, Khushal Yousafzai was the principal of the Khushal School she and her siblings attended. Despite the Taliban’s adamant disapproval of girls education, her father encouraged her and her fellow classmates not only to attend school, but to study politics and speak outwardly in favor of women’s rights to education. On October 9th, 2012, she was shot by the Taliban for her influence and view on women’s rights. Thankfully,