I’m Freshta from Nangarhar, a student in Nangarhar province. In my 25 years, I never wished to be a boy more than after the Taliban stole our dreams of going to school and university. It was never easy for me and other girls to study in Nangarhar, but we continued to chase our dream—a dream that no longer exists. It’s been almost three years since we’ve seen our classrooms, and I can hardly remember what university felt like.

Every day feels dark, and I wake up and go to bed with thoughts of suicide. But then I think of my family and the pain they would endure if I were gone.

– Freshta from Nangarhar