Shabana faced many hardships in her childhood as her father was unlettered and worked as a security guard to support a family of 14.

She was raised in a conservative, patriarchal household, where only men were allowed to pursue an education. Shabana’s father believed that women should get married at 16 and bear children. Her mother had been forced to leave her education midway due to the policies of the Taliban. She fought to ensure that Shabana and her siblings be allowed to attend school.

In the sixth grade, Shabana started working in a beauty salon to partly fund her education. In the 12th grade, she heard of Ashoka and its financial aid policy. She applied and was admitted with full aid. With the atrocities against Afghani women on the rise, some which directly affected the family,

her father finally relented.

Shabana is keen on majoring in computer science. A first year student, she is in awe of the diversity on campus She has learnt as much from her peers, as she has from academics. “I have been able to examine different issues with a critical lens.” She wants to learn a sport – specifically basketball – so she can join the University team. Once she graduates, she will get a PhD before going back to her country to start her own company. “I want this to be a company for and by women”, she says. “Women in Afghanistan don’t have opportunities. This way their families may allow them to work.”

As the first college-goer in her entire family, Shabana has come a long way. Even her father has begun to support her decisions. At a family gathering, when her relatives asked about her, he proudly said that his daughter was at university. The relatives were overwhelmed. “Our boys have not been able to achieve what your girl has”, they said.