In a land not too far away, a girl was born where the value of women and girls meant nothing. I always wondered why a woman’s worth was less than a grain of dust. But I decided to continue my studies. I carried a passion in my heart to reach my dreams, and the world did not stop me.

I studied for twelve years and spent a year and a half preparing for the university entrance exam. Every day, I entered class with energy and excitement, telling myself, “Sabereh, when you step into this classroom, forget all the sorrows of the world. You are here to turn your dreams into reality. You are the architect of your life and future, whatever you choose.”

As I walked in, the first thing I did was look at the faces of all the girls. In each one, I saw a determined, motivated young woman. I smiled to myself and thought, “They are working so hard!” I felt proud of all of them.

Then one day, our teacher suddenly entered the classroom and said, “From now on, girls are not allowed to attend the university prep course.” I closed my eyes and imagined everything collapsing. I looked at the girls around me and saw their faces fill with sorrow and tears. All my dreams were wiped away in an instant, like chalk wiped from the board just moments ago.

I told myself it must be a joke, but no, it was the harsh reality that made every one of us shiver. I hugged the girls around me; they smelled of sadness and despair. At that moment, I noticed a bird flying outside the classroom window. I thought to myself, how lucky you are, continuing to soar despite all obstacles. After a few moments, we separated and encouraged each other as best we could. We kept repeating, “No, this cannot be true.” The only thought we all whispered was, why did the Taliban come and crush our dreams?

They created a false expectation that they would leave, so why haven’t they? How long must we keep our hopes in our hearts? How long must we rely on others? Why is our support never fulfilled? Days passed as we waited for a second announcement to resume classes, but it never came. All the girls were separated and went their own ways. Some got married and became mothers, some continued their studies in secret, some left the country, and some, like me, stayed in the homeland until family decisions led us to Iran.

Leaving my homeland was extremely difficult. Departing from the land of my childhood is an irreversible act. I had hoped to grow in my own country and witness the progress of all the girls there. But here, I will not stop. I will continue my path to the end. My dream has always been the freedom of my peers.

When I first arrived in Iran, I felt a deep unease. Every time I stepped outside, I felt homesick and unsafe. The challenges began again; I could not start my studies properly, and the restrictions repeated themselves. I was told I could not study or move freely outside. That was when I realized life could truly be difficult.

When I check on my friends, each faces her own struggles. Some face the hardships of motherhood, others continue secret education under fear. Since the schools closed, these hardships have fallen on every Afghan girl.

I often ask myself, “What can I do to succeed in life?” I am in a dark and uncertain place, yet I have not lost hope. I have tried many paths to reach my goals. In each one, I learned something new, faced challenges both exciting and discouraging, and found joy in each experience. Slowly, these paths became thrilling journeys for me.

Now I think maybe this is life: falling and rising, exhaustion and recovery, despair and perseverance, laughing through tears, crying amidst joy. But rest assured, anxiety passes, and after all hardships, comfort will come. God will make everything beautiful in its own way.

Friend, be proud of the effort you put toward your goals. Your character, your life, your success, and your happiness depend on these efforts. We live in a country where being a girl is a crime, and the bitterest phrase a girl can hear is, “I wish I were a boy.” But remember, the hardest paths lead to the most beautiful destinations. Be strong and tell yourself, I fight for myself, I seek peace for myself, I aim high for myself.

Change begins with the small steps we take today. Strong people pursue their dreams, and no obstacle can stop them. So come, let us continue on our remaining path together.