Sometimes life becomes so heavy and difficult that even breathing feels like a battle. But we must remember that every sunrise comes after the darkest nights. At times, the feeling of darkness and heaviness settles in your heart, as if your voice is lost in silence, and no one hears or understands.

The days passed one by one, but not easily or calmly—they felt like a heavy burden I carried everywhere. I wished for a place where I could speak about my dreams, my goals, and my peace, and where someone would understand me.

I am an Afghan girl, and I try to stay strong and not lose myself. Especially when I look at girls like me, who, in these harsh times, fight every day against oppression, inequality, and threats from society, the government, and even family, carrying the weight of grief and hardship on their shoulders.

Like many Afghan girls, I have not had an easy life. Especially after the Taliban took control of the country, taking over the government, changing the lives of all Afghan girls. Schools and courses were closed to us, and we were denied our fundamental right to education.

But we never accepted defeat. Together with four friends—Hanana, Atefa, Laila, and Narges—we formed a small group to work together, to study, and to continue learning. Within our group, we identify our dreams, goals, weaknesses, and strengths. We promised each other to be like five spirits in one body and to never give up on our efforts and struggles. We decided to show our families, our society, and the world that being a girl is not a crime, and we too, can achieve the right to education, a right every human being should have.

During these difficult days, when the city was filled with fear and grief and the Taliban humiliated girls for not wearing hijab and took them away, we went out to see the city. Even though our families opposed us, and even strangers looked at us differently when we carried books to courses, we moved forward proudly with our books in hand. We told ourselves that being a girl is not a crime, and studying is our right. No one can humiliate us for learning. With this confidence and spirit, we succeeded. When one of us felt hopeless, the others helped to solve the problem together.

Eventually, my group and I found an educational center where school books were being taught. We joined other girls there and encouraged more friends to attend. Now, many girls are studying and learning at this center. My group and I have achieved remarkable progress. I was able to form an association and lead it, working with many girls on educational and empowerment projects. This work gives me great satisfaction, and I feel at peace alongside other girls. I feel proud, and I know that my work honors myself, my family, and my teachers. Everyone believes I can succeed and achieve my big dream of becoming a doctor.

Among the five of us, Hanana was chosen as a leader for tomorrow by our beloved teacher, Ruyesh, after sharing her life story and challenges. My friend Atefa led a large reading group and organized in-person study sessions with other girls. Our other friends also achieved remarkable progress, each succeeding in their own way. All of this is due to our determination, consistent effort, resilience, solidarity, and refusal to give up.

We, Afghan girls, have learned that life means fighting, falling, and rising again. Life means being humiliated but still smiling. We have learned we must struggle. Sometimes, we just need to wait, breathe, and remind ourselves that one day our efforts will bear fruit. With hearts full of hope, we continue. Many of us dream of becoming leaders one day. We await the day when no girl will be denied her right to education and being a girl will never be seen as a crime.

This writing is not just a few lines of words; it is a piece of our hearts, the feelings of Afghan girls about a life that has never been easy. But as long as we are alive, we continue.

My message as an Afghan girl to my peers is this: never accept defeat. Continue your path with knowledge, awareness, and learning. The day will come when we all reach our goals, lead our country, and step forward united for a better future.