Seeing Malala
Rather unexpectedly, I checked something off my bucket list. Maybe not a full cross-off, but I got as close as I think I ever will. I saw Malala Yousafzai speak in person at the Moore Theater.
I read her first book about ten years ago, and have been intrigued ever since. She became an internationally recognized figure in 2012 after she was shot by the Taliban on her school bus at the age of 15. Why was she targeted? She refused to stop speaking up for girls' education rights in the Swat District of Pakistan. At 17, she became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.
My bucket list includes meeting and talking with a handful of people that have made a profound impact on this world we live in. I know I’m unlikely to meet any of them, much less engage in conversation. But if you are going to dream, why not go for the moon?
In the car, on runs, and while doing dishes, I often imagine speaking with these figures. I have my questions lined up. I’m ready to go. If I bump into any of them on the street, lively banter will ensue.
With all this in mind, when I saw that Malala was coming to Seattle, I jumped at the chance to get my family tickets. A couple of weeks later, we were walking through the city on a crisp Monday evening. I was so excited that I hadn’t really thought about how powerful it would be for my daughter and niece to see her interviewed by Melinda Gates until we sat down in the theater.
The main reason she was visiting the Northwest was to promote a new book. We were all handed one as we walked in. The interview covered topics from the book, but also gave a long runway for her to share unfiltered thoughts. Her first book, I Am Malala, covers the events of her young life that led to her being shot. This new book, Finding My Way, covers the aftermath of that event: living in the UK, attending college, getting married, and continuing her advocacy.
It’s easy to imagine that such an accomplished person would command the stage. Having spoken to people across so many continents, I anticipated a booming voice with hand gestures like a symphony conductor. But none of those things were true. In fact, she is a gentle, soft-spoken woman. Then it occurred to me that she wasn’t on the stage because of her bravado, it was her conviction.
The fireworks went off when she spoke about the subject she has risked her life to defend - the right of girls’ to receive an education. The contrast in her voice actually amplified the message. After almost an hour of endearing stories and responses to audience questions, she transformed once she landed on that topic. You could see the fire light inside her. There was strength, passion, and determination in her voice. She wasn’t speaking in theory, she was testifying to a truth that lives deep inside her. She believes in the right of all children to receive an education to the point of giving her life if necessary. No one can stop her from bringing this truth to all corners of the planet.
The drive home was fascinating, as we all shared our thoughts on the evening. My daughter was inspired by her conviction for girls' education and women's rights. My wife gleaned wisdom she was trying to write down before it left her memory. For me, I arrived wanting to know how she would communicate, what her personality would be like, and if she would be relatable. I left impressed. And I really hope she succeeds in her mission.
In many ways, she and I are about as different as two people could be. Different homes on different sides of the planet. Different genders. Different ages. Different religions. And yet, one of the reasons I have been so moved is because I hear something when she speaks that emanates from my own heart.
If you ever have a chance to check something off your list, you should. Going after these things fuels the soul, and just might inspire you to take a leap forward in your own impact on the world.
