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The Center for Asian Studies co-sponsored Malala Yousafzai’s visit to CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï for the Conference on World Affairs in April. We selected two teachers who participated in CAS’s South, Southeast, and West Asia (SSEWA) Outreach Program’s professional development workshop on Afghanistan, along with an Asian Studies student, to attend Malala’s talk live at Macky Auditorium.

Here are reflections from a teacher and a CU student.

Thornton High School

I wanted to send my profound thanks to the Center for Asian Studies for the opportunity to hear Malala Yousafzai speak. The entire evening was very motivational, and it was a gift for myself and my students when I returned to work the next day. I was also pleasantly surprised by the wonderful seating reserved for us. I felt very valued and appreciated, and I want to thank you for that. 

Sitting so close to the stage on the right side of the auditorium, I could see the small residual scars from the attack Malala survived as a young person. But it became very clear early on and throughout the evening that she had done the work to heal and is now living and thriving in the next chapter of her life. I believe many of us expected to see someone still actively fighting that fight, but her personal strength belied the power of her resilience. It reminded me of the profound, scarring traumas my students have faced, and the faces, voices, growth, learning, and smiles we see from them every day.

It was powerful to hear Malala talk about her strong desire to make friends. As teachers, we are often so focused on the ever-important mountain of skills newcomers must acquire that we don’t always create enough opportunities for moments of friendship. My school is focused on academic discourse, of course, but even when given opportunities to connect, our students often retreat into what they describe as the safety of solitude. 

I think Malala beautifully illustrated our shared need for connection. I know she said she struggled with grades in the pursuit of social connections, but it made me wonder: Would she have healed? Would she be the vibrant, strong woman changing the world today had she not prioritized those relationships? She is such a remarkable person that when she almost dismissively listed the obstacles that face our newcomers to language and culture, it reminded me to consider all the layers of extra work we ask our students to do in each moment. 

I could go on for pages, but I simply want to thank the Center for Asian Studies. Your generosity in giving me the unique opportunity to hear Malala share her story and her work to make the world a better place has enriched my life and informed my teaching. I hope the impact of this experience will continue the ripples of change and betterment. 

Shannon Meyer
ELD Teacher
Thornton High School

CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Undergraduate

Malala Yousafzai’s keynote talk really resonated with me, particularly when she talked about her work with the Afghan women’s soccer team in exile. We see a lot of media attention on men’s soccer, especially with the Iran situation at the recent FIFA World Cup held in North America, but Afghan and Middle Eastern women’s teams rarely get the same visibility. 

Malala’s advocacy for Afghan girl athletes to have a place on the world stage while their own Taliban government pretends they don’t exist is such a powerful message. It’s the kind of story that deserves a much wider audience.

I’m very glad Malala is continuing this work and using her platform to shed light on a fight that doesn’t get enough attention. Hearing her speak live made it clear her fight for girls’ education, women’s sports, and human rights is an ongoing work to this day. 

Emmett Haruch
Undergraduate student pursuing a BA in Cinema Studies, with a minor in Asian Studies
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï