The Dream of a Classroom

In a quiet village nestled between Afghanistan’s rugged mountains, 13-year-old Mariam woke up at dawn every day, not to attend school, but to help her mother gather firewood. Her father, a farmer, dreamed of a better life for his children but had no means to send them far for an education.
One day, a group of volunteers arrived, determined to build a school nearby. Mariam’s heart raced with hope. For weeks, she and the other villagers worked tirelessly, helping carry materials. As the school’s walls rose, so did her dreams.
When the school finally opened, Mariam was the first to enroll. Sitting in the front row, she gripped her pencil tightly, eager to write the story of her life—a story that began with her first day of school.