I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me as I stared slack-jawed at the school in front of me.

The school where I studied most of my life and where I was treated differently than others. This was the only school in my village and it was only for boys because according to the elders that lived there, girls are supposed to stay at home and take care of the house and their family rather than studying and becoming successful.

Girls were expected to live within the four walls of their house and to clean and cook while their husband or father earn money.

Now that I think about such preposterous beliefs, I feel disconsolate. I feel sad for all the girls who were not given opportunities like me to study abroad and look at the new world where both genders were treated equally. 

I was the only girl in the school of boys. Most parents in the village also agreed to keep their daughters locked inside the house and prepare them for the monotonous life ahead. The only parents which disagreed with this belief were my parents. They wanted their only daughter to study and look at this world from a different perspective. They wanted me to show all the people how wrong the rule of not educating the girls is. They wanted me to fly high and be independent. I didn't disappoint them. 

It was exasperating to be the only girl in the village to study. Whenever we used to go out we were meet with the glares of elder people who were not happy that we disagreed to follow their rules.

In school, I was treated differently than the boys. I was never allowed to play sports and I always have to sit away from everyone. When I finally graduated, I got a scholarship and was invited to study at a law university in the UK.

I was flabbergasted by life in the UK. I saw a completely different world where women were allowed to work and study. They were allowed to be independent and live their best life. All of this encouraged me to study harder than usual so one day I can go back to the village and change the rules and stop gender inequality. 

This is why I am standing in front of my old school. The school which educates girls too. The school now treats both genders equally. I hugged my parents and smiled at the difference I have made.

You really can change the world if you care enough.