I, Malika Akbari, daughter of Mohammad Ali, was born on 3 Jowza 1383 (May 23, 2004) in Kabul City. From childhood, I nurtured a deep passion for reading and writing. I learned the Holy Quran at home from my mother and enrolled in school at the age of six. By 16, I had completed my schooling and was preparing to enter university.
The Quarantine and Reading habit
In 12th grade, as we prepared for the Kankor (university entrance) exam, the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. The terror unleashed by the virus drained hope from everyone. We remained in quarantine for six months, confined to our homes with no outdoor activities. The initial days were unbearably difficult for me—I suffered from severe headaches brought on by distress and isolation.
During this period, I stumbled upon a book titled The Forty Rules of Love. After reading just a few pages, I became so engrossed in the story that I finished the 350-page book in just two days and nights. This book transformed my perspective on life. No longer hopeless, I was instead filled with motivation and energy. What I had initially believed to be the hardest period of my life became one of the most fruitful and rewarding. Over those six months, I immersed myself in my textbooks and Kankor materials, clinging to the belief that these difficult days would eventually pass.
Finally, in the month of Asad (July/August), the quarantine was lifted, and schools and educational centers reopened. My joy that day was indescribable. As I stepped into the classroom, I felt as though I had grown wings, while many of my classmates remained disheartened and unmotivated.
The Fall of Afghanistan
Despite the challenges, we persevered and sat for the Kankor exam. But on the very day we awaited the results, a nightmare unfolded—the fall of Afghanistan. Chaos engulfed the country, and our dreams crumbled. Once again, I found myself sinking into despair, my old headaches returning with full force.
With the support and encouragement of my teachers, I prepared for the second round of the Kankor exam. But just one week before the test, I experienced the most harrowing day of my life—the suicide attack at the Kaj Educational Center.
I lost friends with whom I had shared classrooms and dreams for two years. That day, they became lifeless bodies, drenched in blood, torn apart... Yet I survived, carrying wounds deeper than the eye could see.
Two years have passed since that tragic day, but I still rely on sedatives. The pain remains, and that horror will never fade from my memory.
Teaching and Striving for Dreams
At my family’s insistence, I enrolled in university. However, after two semesters, all universities and schools for girls above sixth grade were shut down. Faced with these restrictions, I turned to teaching in private schools. This work not only brought me solace but also reignited my sense of purpose.
Sharing my life story with my students and motivating them in turn restored my own hope. I now push forward with greater determination, striving to become the change I wish to see in the world.
Hope
Despite every challenge, I still have hope. I still dream. I still long to graduate in Computer Science one day and prove that nothing is impossible.
The path to success may be difficult and long, but with unwavering determination and faith in God, no obstacle can stand in our way.
Today, in these trying times, we must persevere, uplift one another, and become the change we wish to see. One day, this dark chapter will end, and a brighter future will take its place.
About the Author:Malika Akbari is an Afghan writer and educator born in Kabul in 2004. Passionate about learning, she overcame immense challenges, including war, exile from education, and personal loss. Despite setbacks, she turned to teaching, inspiring others with her resilience. She dreams of completing her studies in Computer Science and proving that hope endures against all odds.
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