I recently finished reading two books by very different individuals who have a common goal: educating all the children in the world (especially girls, who are more likely to be deprived of an education). \u00a0The books are I Am Malala<\/a> by Malala Yousafzai and The Promise of a Pencil<\/a> by Adam Braun.<\/p>\n

Malala was born into a very poor family in the Swat Valley of Pakistan while Adam was born into an upper-middle-class family in Connecticut. \u00a0Their lives could hardly have begun in more different circumstances, but both realized an important truth: individuals can have a powerful impact. \u00a0They didn’t need to wait for the world to change; they decided to\u00a0act.<\/p>\n

Malala, encouraged by her father (who, with much difficulty and privation, opened a school in the Swat Valley), became the voice for\u00a0girls’ education in Pakistan. \u00a0 Adam initially followed a conventional path by becoming a consultant at Bain, although it was never a comfortable fit: he was left feeling empty and unfulfilled.<\/p>\n

Malala and her father defied death threats to continue her education and that of other girls. \u00a0They realized that educated girls<\/a> could\u00a0improve their\u00a0own\u00a0and their families’ lives and that nothing should prevent that education.<\/p>\n

Adam, an adventurous traveler, discovered how desperately education was needed throughout the impoverished regions of the world. \u00a0He wanted to create a foundation to build schools in those regions, but his parents and co-workers felt that leaving his job at Bain was too big a risk to take.<\/p>\n

When the Taliban shot Malala, it was truly a shot heard ’round the world. \u00a0Malala’s voice, which primarily had been heard in Pakistan, has now become the<\/em> international voice<\/a> championing girls’ education. \u00a0With the aid of Shiza Shahid, Malala has an organization<\/a> to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education.<\/p>\n

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After several months of a sabbatical from Bain during which he focused on laying the groundwork for his education foundation, Adam realized that he couldn’t return to Bain. \u00a0He plunged fully into his organization: Pencils of Promise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Here are two individuals who come from very different backgrounds, but who have common goals. \u00a0They want to live\u00a0in ways\u00a0that make a positive difference in the world by making\u00a0sure that all children (but especially girls) receive an\u00a0education.<\/p>\n

As Malala states in her book, reflecting on being shot, everyone will die. \u00a0What matters is how you live.<\/p>\n

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