Honoring Resilience Through Words: Kaaj Education Essay Competition 2025

In May 2025, Kaaj Education launched a heartfelt initiative to uplift the voices of its students and alumni through storytelling. The Kaaj Education Essay Competition 2025 invited participants to reflect on the theme:

“Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

The goal was not just to encourage writing as a skill, but to open a space for personal truth, reflection, and resilience—values that lie at the heart of Kaaj Education’s mission. Kaaj Education academic team received tens of entries from both current students and alumni. Each story offered a window into personal strength, vulnerability, and transformation. The enthusiasm and courage shown by our participants reaffirmed the deep connection between writing and healing, between storytelling and community building. Among the many compelling submissions, three essays were shortlisted and sha red on our Instagram platform for public voting. The final result was determined by our vibrant online community.

A Voice That Moved Us All

The most voted and deeply moving essay came from Sadaf Sadat, a dedicated student of our Intermediate English Course. Her essay, “The Day My World Changed,” stood out not only for the rawness of her lived experience but also for the strength and clarity with which she expressed it. As Sadaf beautifully put it, “When we write, we discover parts of ourselves we didn't know existed. It helps us to reflect, to heal, and to grow.”

The Day My World Changed

(by Sadaf Sadat- full article)

"Since I was nine, I’ve held onto big dreams despite the pain life brought me. My brother, unlike me, always got what he wanted. He never worked, depending on our parents, and when they refused to let him marry without a job, he turned violent to force their hand. One day, when I was fourteen, my mother and I returned home from a doctor’s visit to the sound of my sisters screaming. My brother opened the door and coldly said, “Go inside and see your daughter’s corpse.” Inside, one sister was covered in blood, the other lying motionless, beaten with a metal rod. I thought she was dead—until I heard a faint moan. My father, a doctor, rushed home and bandaged her, but the damage—both physical and emotional—was severe. After that day, we couldn’t stay home alone. Every time my father went to work, we had to leave the house in fear. I was the youngest, helpless to protect my sisters. My education suffered. I studied in the streets, holding my books while hiding tears. I had once been top of my class, but my grades dropped. I remember watching joyful families walk by, while we sat broken, afraid to return home. Eventually, my mother sold her gold to get visas so we could escape. My sister prepared to leave university. We were so close to freedom. But a phone call changed everything. My uncle warned my mother about traveling alone with daughters. Fear replaced hope. We stayed. My brother won again. My parents agreed to his marriage request to keep him calm, but the girl saw his true face and left him.

In the end, my sister married someone she didn’t love just to escape. My mother, other sister, and I fled to a country we never chose—just to be safe. My father stayed behind. I still miss him, but his silence during our suffering cut deep. My brother’s violence didn’t just hurt us—it tore our family apart and changed our lives forever. But he didn’t break me. He made me stronger. Now, I write—not just for myself, but for every silenced girl. The world will know what he did, and why I will never forgive him. This is my story. It shaped who I am. And I’ve only just begun to share it."

At Kaaj Education, we are proud to provide a platform where such stories can be heard and honored. We remain committed to nurturing resilience through expression, and we thank every participant for trusting us with their truth. To read more inspiring stories and stay updated on our initiatives, follow us on our website and social media platforms.