Hanifa:

I am Hanifa Yousufi, hailing from Afghanistan, a place where unseen dangers lurk and the inevitability of death looms. It is a land where destinies seem doomed, and the youth are left disheartened and disillusioned, endlessly waiting for dreams that may never come to fruition. My country has been plagued by war and conflict for as long as I can remember, and it has left a lasting impact on me. However, there is one event that stands out in my mind – the day the Taliban occupied Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was a normal day, I was ironing the clothes and watching TV. That  my father came home with a sad expression on his face. He told us that the Taliban had taken over Kabul and my heart sank. I couldn’t believe it at first and asked my father if he was joking, but his serious tone confirmed that it was indeed true. The news of the Taliban’s occupation spread quickly and people were gripped with fear. My mother and brother were out when we received the news, and we were all worried about their safety. When they finally returned home, they told us about the chaos outside – people were rushing to buy supplies in fear of an impending war.
For the next month, I stayed inside our home out of fear that if I stepped outside, the Taliban would harm me or even take me away. It was a terrifying time for everyone in Afghanistan. But as time passed, things started to become more normal for me. I began studying again and focused on preparing for Kankor – an important exam that would determine my future. I studied hard at Kaaj center to achieve my goals and get a high score on the Kankor  exam. However,  we had exam from different subjects every week. It was the week that we had the exam of interpretation of Holy Quran and history of 11^th grade . I went to center at 6 am and we were taking the exam that suddenly, a very bad explosion happened in our center and  The sound of gunfire filled our ears as we all panicked and tried to escape. In the chaos, many students lost their lives – students who were supposed to take Kankor exam just two weeks later.
When I came home, I was very panicky. My mother asked, “Why did you come home early today?” I did not say anything and just put my head in the hug of my mother. I cried and said, “Why do people want to kill students who have done no wrong? They just want to study and make a better future for themselves.” Is studying a crime? My mother wiped away my tears and said, “No, my dear daughter. Studying is not a crime. But unfortunately, we live in a country where studying is considered a crime. And if you want to commit this ‘crime’, you may have to lose your life.” My heart was broken because I had lost many of my dear, nice, and close friends who always helped me with my studies. This experience made me realize the harsh reality that education is not valued in our society. It is seen as a threat by those in power who do not want the younger generation to be educated and empowered. But despite this, I made a promise to myself that day – to continue my education not just for myself but also for my friends who lost their lives in pursuit of their dreams Despite the constant fear and uncertainty, I continued studying for Kankor exam. It was my only hope for a better future after the Taliban’s occupation. But my hopes were dashed when the Taliban announced that they would only allow boys to take the exam. Once again, I felt disappointed and hopeless about my future. But then, a glimmer of hope appeared when I received an email from AUAF university. They offered me admission to study at American University of Afghanistan as an academic student. It was like a ray of sunshine in the midst of darkness. I was overjoyed and even shed tears of happiness – it was another opportunity for me to continue my education.
Now, I am studying at AUAF and it has been a life-changing experience. During these years, I have learned that life is not easy – it is filled with hardships and difficulties. But we must never give up and instead become stronger after every problem we face. Living in Afghanistan has taught me many valuable lessons. One of the most important things I have learned is that life without challenges is meaningless. It is through these challenges that we grow and gain valuable experiences. As I continue my education at AUAF, I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way despite living in a war-torn country. And while there are still many challenges ahead, I am determined to never give up on my dreams and make the most out of every opportunity that comes my way.