Written by A Journey Through Adversity: An Afghan Girl’s Struggle for Freedom and Self-Resilience
I am an Afghan girl who has encountered numerous challenges throughout my life, with the emotional and psychological scars deepening after the loss of a family member.
I, someone who cherished the ideals of freedom, self-sufficiency, and defending both my own rights and those of others, found myself standing alone in this endeavor. I fought a personal battle within, grappling with immense pain. Sleep offered no respite, for the absence of a family member created profound voids in a teenager’s existence.
I resolved to become a strong and resilient young woman, despite the agony I endured. Society’s gaze fixated on me, pondering when I would be married off. Still, I was too young to enter into matrimony, yet some relatives pressured me, urging me to wed. I aspired to pursue various national interests but had to relinquish them due to societal expectations placed on me simply because I was a girl.
A Fateful Engagement: Navigating Tradition and Disappointment in an Afghan Girl’s Life
The weight of my previous decisions weighed heavily on me. My life took an unexpected turn when I befriended a young man, and it was decided that he would propose to me. To conform with Afghan customs, we claimed not to have known each other before the marriage proposal. Afghanistan’s strict norms regarding pre-marital relationships carried significant consequences and criticism. I believed this young man would transform my life and bring happiness to it, contrasting with the sorrow that had been my constant companion. However, my expectations were shattered when I discovered he was not the person I thought he was. I had agreed to the engagement to prevent my life from being ruined, but this young man treated me with the same disrespect as others and insisted that I should confine myself to the home, asserting that Afghan girls should not pursue an education.
He was involved with other girls while ignoring me, prompting me to make a challenging decision. I informed his family about our relationship, hoping for support, but they held the same outdated beliefs as him. Exasperated, I escalated the matter by involving my own family, ultimately deciding to end the engagement. This journey was marked by errors and encounters with hostile individuals, but it ultimately made me stronger and wiser. I want to convey a message: “Do not fear your mistakes, for no one is exempt from them. Forge ahead with strength and resilience.”
