Overcoming the Taliban's Ban on Education for Girls in Afghanistan

• Following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghan girls were denied access to formal education beyond the sixth grade.
• The author utilized family support and secret learning environments to continue her education.
• She has been accepted into an online bachelor's program at the University of the People, starting in April 2026.

The Loss of Education

• When the Taliban seized power, the author was in the eleventh grade and faced the sudden termination of her schooling.
• She describes the environment for women under the current regime as a real-world parallel to the dystopia in Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid’s Tale."

Pursuit of Knowledge

• The author joined a secret English language center in Herat, where she eventually transitioned from a student to a teacher for younger girls.
• She engaged in extensive independent reading to understand history and human experience, including:
  • "The Useless Sex" by Oriana Fallaci
  • "The Handmaid’s Tale" by Margaret Atwood
  • "Girl, Wash Your Face" by Rachel Hollis
  • "Masnavi" by Rumi
  • "A History of the World" by Ernst Gombrich

Moving Forward

• Strong parental encouragement to achieve independence was pivotal in the author's ability to persist despite her circumstances.
• The author aims to use her admission to the online Business Administration program as a stepping stone toward earning master's and doctoral degrees.
• She remains deeply concerned for other girls still trapped in the country and hopes for a future where all families prioritize and support their daughters' education.