Fight for Education
By Adela Talayee
"You cannot study anymore to become a doctor; you have to get married," said my family when a suitor came for me. My mother brought up various reasons for me to accept the engagement, while my father had no opinion. I was against it. Despite putting on a strong face and refusing to accept it, inside I felt scared. I cried day and night so my parents wouldn't engage me with someone. I was under a lot of pressure from society and family. It was easy to join the current, but I could not forget about being a doctor. I could not give up on my future and dreams.
I never imagined a day like this when I would no longer be able to go to school and continue my education but instead be forced to consider getting married. The political chang has brought nothing but fear, and disappointment, and shattered our dreams to the ground. My family has always supported me in the pursuit of my education, but under the current government they too lost hope of a bright future for me.
As a child, I loved going to clinics and hospitals where I could watch doctors busy at work. I imagined myself in their white coats and tried to act like a doctor. It was my dream and favorite job. I want to be the one to help families and individuals who need treatment but cannot afford it, thereby losing their lives or becoming permanently disabled. My help will be limited without financial independence, which is another reason I want to pursue a profession in the medical field. Doctors have a good salary. As a doctor, I can help my family and patients in need of financial assistance.
I had high hopes to study medicine in college without having a clue about the sudden political turmoil in Afghanistan. The current government's laws and public policies restricted us so much that there was nothing we could do. Girls are prohibited from entering schools. I had to find a way not to lose sight of my future dream. In secret and fearing for my safety, I looked for apprenticeships in hospitals. I found a job in a hospital. This is not a formal medical school, but I am learning the basics of everyday interaction and assisting the patients at the hospital.
I tried several times to make my voice heard by the world. I faced the fear of getting shot, jailed, and tortured by the oppressed government and protested in the streets of Kabul for my education. I joined several groups of women protesters, and I did interviews with local and international news channels, such as "CNN," but nothing worked. For reasons that I am unaware of, those interviews were not broadcasted. It was a moment of despair for me. I felt poor. It seemed like no one in the world cared about us and didn't do anything. We became victims of world politics. Even if the world seems to have forgotten about us, I will still seek the education I desire and still follow my dreams.
The least Western countries or the world can do is to provide an opportunity for Afghan girls to continue their studies. Every day we risk our lives to obtain an education. More than anyone, we need scholarship opportunities to study. I hope the world hears me this time and helps me and other Afghan girls in our fight for gender equality and women's access to education.
