Although today is the last day of March, I want to take some time to recall how the Women’s History Month has passed by. The women history is infinite: it passes through time and space, and a page is not going to be enough to cover it. Therefore, to save time, I am not going to talk about the “old” history, but about the “new” one. However, “old” history still means a lot of things, because it is the first step to the end of the road, or the first brick to the complete building. The civil right lady Rosa Parks, the famous scientist Marie Curie, and the benevolent nun Mother Teresa are familiar names that are undoubtedly in our minds when we talk about women who changed the world.
And yes, these women have dramatically changed the world, but the world still needs changes. It is the growing group of new faces that keeps necessary changes continuing. Let’s just take a few minutes to remember them—the ones who still live with us now.
Malala Yousafzai, an 18-year- old Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize awardee was shot by the Taliban at the age of 14 when she sought women's rights for education. Her action brought the world’s attention to the injustices women experienced in the Swat Valley when the local Taliban had banned girls from attending school. Like Rosa Parks, she stood up in public, and fought for the privileges that women, as human beings, deserve to have. Her action symbolizes that age, sex, and nationality do not matter as long as you are determined and brave enough: the sky is the limit.
Not only do contemporary women fight for the rights for education, but they also stand up for their beliefs. Amani Al-Khatahtbeh is a name to know if you have heard about the blog MuslimGirl. This amazing woman takes advantage of the Internet to raise awareness about Muslim women in the United States. Little has been known about them, so this site is a great place for Muslim women to express their true identities without hiding, and others can also learn about this religion, which they may not be acquainted with.
What would you do when you reach the age of 69? Would you retire and go on a vacation somewhere to unwind your busy life? This is not the case for Hillary Clinton, one of the promising candidates for the 2016 presidential election. She was the United States Secretary of States, a senator from New York, and the First Lady of the United States. Needless to say, her contribution to America is huge. If elected, her achievement will mark another era of “Women who changed the world”. Go Hillary!!!
After reading their stories, I hope that every woman will be encouraged to follow their dreams. Like Dr. Mae Jemison —the first African American woman to travel in space once said, "I realized I would feel comfortable anywhere in the universe — because I belonged to and was a part of it, as much as any star, planet, asteroid, comet, or nebula." Do whatever you want, it does not have to be big, but never be afraid of how people think of you because a woman deserves to achieve whatever she wishes for. Then, to everyone who loves you, your achievements are meaningful.
In the end, you may take a moment to remember the important women in your life. It is not too late to say Happy Women’s History Month, or I am thankful to have you in my life. And I personally want to say, “Happy birthday Mom—the most endearing women who has brought me to this world so I can sit here and write this post."
