You may have heard the name Malala Yousufzai and not known who she was or why she’s a big deal. A lot of people are sort of like, “Oh, that girl who got shot in the Middle East, right?” It’s easy to not understand her full story of why she’s so important. But we’re here to change that for you.

Malala Yousufzai is 15 years old and growing up in Pakistan. She’s a student a lot like you–but dealing with a lot scarier circumstances just to get an education. When the Taliban took hold of her area in Pakistan (she grew up in the Swat Valley), they made it difficult and dangerous for girls to go to school, even banning it when they gained power. They also banned music, television, and women from going shopping. They didn’t just ban girls from going to school with verbal warnings, either–they blew up a lot of schools to make sure they couldn’t go. To call it terrifying would be an understatement, but that was life for Malala and her classmates.

This didn’t deter Malala, who not only continued to pursue knowledge–and therefore power–but also documented her experiences. She began by keeping a blog for the BBC under a different name (to protect her identity and safety) about her day-to-day life under Taliban rule. Later, The New York Times actually produced a documentary about her life. From there, Malala Yousufzai became a prominent figure not just in Pakistan, but the world, giving interviews and becoming an outspoken advocate of education and empowerment for girls who may not be as lucky as we are to be born in or live somewhere that girls can be free to pursue learning and power over their own lives. She’s nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and nabbed the very first Pakistan National Youth Peace Prize–and deserves it all.

The problem with all that? By becoming such a hero, Malala Yousufzai also became a target for Taliban militants. On October 9, Taliban gunmen shot Malala in her head and her neck in an attempt to assassinate her–and, in effect, silence her message of peace and empowerment for women and girls.

Thankfully, the Taliban failed at all counts. While Malala was, in fact, struck with bullets and critically injured, she’s since been receiving medical treatment in the U.K. Malala is recovering, and she’s able to both stand up and communicate through writing. She’s still battling an infection (docs think it’s stemming from a bullet that grazed her head), but it’s looking like she’ll make a full recovery, though she may suffer brain damage from the gunshot to her head.

What happened to Malala was terrible, but the attack actually backfired on the Taliban, because now her amazing story and mission is at the forefront of our minds. She’s reminding us that our education is our key to true freedom and to embrace it. If knowledge weren’t power, the Taliban wouldn’t see Malala Yousufzai and other women pursuing and promoting education as such a threat. The fact that a misogynist regime targeted a teenage girl speaks not only to their own weakness, but to her strength and the nobility of her cause. Malala Yousufzai may be down, but she’s sure not out.

You can watch Malala’s documentary here:

You can sign a petition to support Malala’s cause here. Had you heard of Malala Yousufzai before her attack? What would you do if you were told you couldn’t go to school anymore? Sound off on your thoughts and Malala’s bravery in the comments!

These foreign girls are brave, too!

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