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Here's to Malala: One of My True Heroes!



Each year, I ask my middle school students to write an essay comparing and contrasting John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" to Mahatma Gandhi's "Be the change you wish to see in the world." They reflect on the lyrics they most agree with and why. It is one of those assignments that I hope inspires critical thinking, a broader worldview, and a sense of valuing humanity for the sake of humanity. Although I never share with my students which lyrics I aspire to, my hope and wish for each them is that they will be the change . . .
 
Perhaps only half a dozen times in a lifetime do we have the opportunity to bear witness to extraordinary people who are changing the world in such powerful and positive ways that their names will still be known a hundred years from now. I believe Malala Yousafzai is one of those genuinely extraordinary people.
 
I'm so happy that Malala was honored with a Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless global work for peace, understanding, education, and girls' rights to equality in cultures where they are suppressed and oppressed!
 
Here's to Malala . . . a young woman who truly is the change she wishes to see in the world! May she inspire our students. May she inspire our teachers. May she inspire each of us!

 

24 comments:

  1. I love this post Sherri. Your tribute to her is just beautiful and she is such an inspiration.

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    1. Thank you, Jamie! You're right -- Malala's courage and her global work truly are inspirational! I adore the fact that when she learned she had won the Nobel Peace Prize, she said she would make a statement right after her classes ended for the day!

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  2. I nominated you for the Liebster Award! I have been following your blog! You can check out your nomination and read the instructions of how to accept it here:

    http://funfoodfigurativelanguage.blogspot.com/

    Angie

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  3. Thanks for the introduction to Malala today. She sounds like an amazing young woman!

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  4. Malala is definitely a hero. She is so inspiring to me.

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  5. I love that you use those two contrasting thoughts to get them to think critically about creating change in the world. I absolutely agree about Malala. She is truly amazing and an inspiration to all>
    :-)
    Traci

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  6. I love that you have your students do that! Malala is an amazing person!

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  7. I love Malala. She is one of the most inspiring and courageous women of our time. I was so glad that she got the Nobel Peace Prize as well. She fully deserves it! Here's to Malala!

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  8. I saw her on Oprah some years ago. Such and imprint story.

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  9. What a great project for the kids too. Those kinds of written lessons really stick.

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  10. I have heard of Malala efforts but had no idea that she was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. It just goes to show you that anyone can do anything with the right approach.

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  11. I always love hearing about Malala. I hope she continues to keep up the amazing work.

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  12. I must have been living under a rock... why have I never heard of this woman?!? I have daughters for crying out loud and they need to know that there are women like this!!

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  13. Malala truly is an extraordinary young woman... I'm always inspired and amazed that people with so little are able to make such a great impact on the world

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  14. Malala truly is an extraordinary young woman... I'm always inspired and amazed that people with so little are able to make such a great impact on the world

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  15. She truly is an exceptional young lady. I first read about her last year and was truly inspired.

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  16. Thanks for the introduction to Malala. She sounds like an amazing girl and I can't wait to read the book or watch the movie!

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  17. This is such a beautiful tribute. She's an inspiring young lady!

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  18. I love learning about inspiring women. I hope that my daughter too would learn about those, who have taken a hard road of being first

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  19. My daughters and I were just watching an interview with Malala... she is one of the most inspiring young women out there right now and I can only hope my daughters will learn from her.

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  20. She is such an incredible, brave young woman! A hero indeed!

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  21. Malala is an amazing girl. So glad she's getting awareness for her cause and being honored.

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  22. Malala is the voice of her generation and their inspiration to step outside themselves to serve others. With the recent release of her film "He Named Me Malala", middle school students can connect her story to current events. Yes, a solitary voice can make a difference. Where do each of our students see themselves in the world? Like St. Therese of Lisieux, "The Little Flower", our young people are capable of doing little things that mean so much to their world. Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try. Love the "paired texts".

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  23. Malala is the voice of her generation and their inspiration to step outside themselves to serve others. With the recent release of her film "He Named Me Malala", middle school students can connect her story to current events. Yes, a solitary voice can make a difference. Where do each of our students see themselves in the world? Like St. Therese of Lisieux, "The Little Flower", our young people are capable of doing little things that mean so much to their world. Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try. Love the "paired texts".

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