After a life-changing recovery from shots to her head and neck, 16-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai shared her story of advocating for peace and education in her new book, “I am Malala.”

The memoir explains the events that led up to and followed her attempted assassination in October 2012. At 11 years old, Yousafzai was devastated after the Taliban shut down her public girl’s school. Over the years, she spoke up against the Taliban and fought for her and other young women’s rights.

“They can stop me from going to school, but they can’t stop me from learning,” she said.

In our society, this doesn’t sound like anything a young girl would say or even have to say. This shows how much admiration Yousafzai has for education. I was amazed by the passion and drive such a young girl had for education.

The memoir also describes how different living in Pakistan is from other countries. The contrast in Yousafzai’s lifestyle in comparison to my own was astonishing. In the memoir, she explains the struggles she had adjusting to living with clean, running water and endless electricity when she moved to England. This idea was foreign to me, and I couldn’t imagine running water being a new concept.

“I am Malala” is an inspiring memoir everyone should read. Yousafzai not only survived an attempted assassination, she continued her drive for educational rights. I had difficulty critiquing such an inspiring memoir.

Education is something many take for granted because it is relatively common. Many people have an opportunity to go to public or private school, and some are lucky to further their educations in colleges and trade schools.

Reading this memoir made me think about all of the things others around the world do not have. “I am Malala” inspired me to appreciate what I have.