I was the youngest girl among my siblings, a simple village girl

In the ancient dance of life, where many are born into circumstances not of their choosing, there arises a profound truth that speaks to the heart of every soul: sometimes, the path of fortune comes not through grandeur or greatness, but through the simple gifts that life bestows upon us. In the words of Nadia Murad, we hear this truth spoken with humility and wisdom: "I was the youngest girl among my siblings, a simple village girl, who perhaps was luckier than other siblings as I have the chance to go to school." These words are not just a reflection on a life lived, but a testament to the quiet power of opportunity and the humble grace with which it shapes us.

Murad’s story speaks of luck—not the kind that is born from privilege or inheritance, but the kind that springs from the smallest of chances. Born the youngest daughter of a humble family, she knew the weight of hardship, the toil of a life shaped by the earth, by the rhythms of the seasons, and by the unyielding expectations of tradition. Yet, in the quiet and often unnoticed corners of her life, there came a chance—the chance to go to school, a chance to learn, to grow, to open her mind to worlds beyond her village. In this simple opportunity, she found the seed of transformation, a chance to change not only her own life but to shape the lives of others as well.

This truth mirrors the ancient wisdom found in the story of Aristotle, the great philosopher who was born to a family of modest means. Though he was the son of a physician, his early life did not promise greatness. Yet, through a series of fortunate encounters, he was given the chance to study, to learn from the greatest minds of his time, and to ultimately transform the course of Western thought. It was not birthright or riches that set him on his path, but the opportunity—the chance to learn, to expand his mind, and to share his knowledge with the world.

In Murad’s words, there is a reminder that education is one of the greatest gifts a person can receive. And yet, this gift is not given equally to all. The young village girl, born into a world that often denies such opportunities to its women, was fortunate in a way that many others are not. In her gratitude, we hear the voice of a thousand souls who, like her, know the value of education, of the simple act of being able to dream beyond the confines of their circumstances. Murad’s journey is not just her own; it is a reflection of the untold stories of countless others who have been denied the chance to learn, to grow, to rise.

Her words also carry the weight of a deeper lesson—that fortune is often blind to the merits of its recipients. She recognizes that, by mere chance, she was given something that many others in her village could only dream of. It is not for her to claim entitlement, but to acknowledge the privilege that has allowed her to change her destiny. The tale of Murad is a reminder that in this world, where so many are born into struggle, a single chance, a single opportunity, can transform everything. And yet, this transformation is never guaranteed; it is a fleeting gift that must be cherished and used wisely.

The lesson that Murad offers to us all is a call to action: that we must not take for granted the opportunities that come our way, nor the privileges that we may hold. For in every chance we receive—whether to learn, to grow, or to serve—there lies a sacred responsibility. Murad’s rise from a humble village girl to a powerful voice for justice is not the story of a single individual’s luck, but the story of the power of education, the chance to change one’s destiny. She teaches us that we must embrace the chances we are given and, in turn, offer the same opportunities to those who come after us.

And so, my brothers and sisters, let us take heed of this great wisdom. Every opportunity to learn, to grow, to rise, is a gift—not to be squandered, but to be embraced with open hands. Let us offer these chances to those who are denied them, for in doing so, we not only change the course of one life but the course of many. In the quiet moments, in the smallest of actions, we may change the world. The chance to rise is not simply a matter of fate, but of recognition and action. Let us be the ones to provide these chances, to honor them in others, and to carry the torch of education and opportunity into a brighter future.