Malala Yousafzai, the 20-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who overcame being shot by the Taliban for speaking out about girls’ education in Pakistan, tweeted Thursday that she’ll be going to Oxford.
Malala Yousafzai has always been a passionate advocate for education. In fact, it was her blog encouraging education for girls in her native Pakistan that made her a target five years ago when she was shot in the head at age 15 by Taliban soldiers. The now-20-year-old Yousafzai announced Thursday she’ll have the opportunity to put her passion to good use (again) as a student at Oxford University.
We’re not exactly shocked that the prestigious university accepted Yousafzai. After all, she’s the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, the youngest person to be named a U.N. Messenger of Peace, and she’s also just an all-around badass.
So excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A-level students - the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead! pic.twitter.com/miIwK6fNSf
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) August 17, 2017
According to the Independent, Yousafzai told teachers at the Association of School and College Lecturers conference in March that she had received a conditional offer from a university, but still needed three A grades—which, she, unsurprisingly, nailed (assuming Oxford was that university). At the same event, she did confirm she had interviewed at Oxford and that even being a renown human rights activist doesn’t shield you from nerves:
"“It was the hardest interview of my life. I just get scared when I think of the interview.”"
She’ll be studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
Yousafzai received well wishes for her announcement from some prominent fans, including J.K. Rowling, who went with a simple “Congratulations, Malala! X”
Congratulations, Malala! X
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 17, 2017
It’s a small pocket of light after a week of dark news to know that Yousafzai and those like her who are brave enough to stand up for what’s right in the face of unimaginable oppression and hatred can keep fighting the good fight. We have no doubt Malala will continue to do great things during her university years and beyond, and that she’ll keep bringing more light into a world that desperately needs it.