Even teenage Nobel Peace Prize winners get the blues.
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Peace Prize winner in history (at 17), education activist, author of I Am Malala and founder of the Malala Fund, devoted to raising money for education programs, revealed to Teen Vogue that she has struggled with depression and other mental health issues.
But her internal battles are understandable. After all, the 22-year-old Oxford University sophomore first hit the international spotlight after suffering a near-fatal gunshot to the head delivered by a Taliban terrorist who was upset with her exposing political issues in her home country of Pakistan when she was 14.
“There are so many things in the world; a lot of them are really depressing,” Yousafzai told Teen Vogue, adding that she deals with downers by discussing them with friends and her parents. “What we need to do is remain positive because our sadness can’t change the world.”
And changing the world is what the social-media firebrand is all about. Most prominently, Yousafzai relentlessly campaigns for girls to be properly educated. Besides ranking as a pure and simple human right, she pointed out to Teen Vogue schooling for females makes financial sense as well.
“When you educate girls, it adds up to $30 trillion to the world economy. It helps us protect our climate. It reduces poverty; it reduces the likelihood of wars in developing countries. So when you look at those advantages, then you say, ‘We have to invest in girls’ educations.’ ”
Beyond that, women who are better educated would seem likelier to communicate their views, she said. “I hope to see more Muslim young people coming forward and present and share their voice, share their stories that they are also known as equals to everybody else and have a normal life.”
Busy as Yousafzai may be, however, she still is a millennial and has her millennial priorities. Of course, that includes maintaining a cool streaming list. What tops Yousafzai’s online listening fare? “Hasan Minhaj and ‘Green Eggs and Ham,’ ” she told Teen Vogue. “That’s all you need.”
– Courtesy: New York Post
