Eight years after surviving an attack from the Taliban, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has officially graduated from Oxford University with her degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.
On Friday, she shared the news to her social media accounts and discussed what's next for this 22-year-old activist now that she comes armed with her bachelor's degree.
"Hard to express my joy and gratitude right now," she wrote in the post, adding, "I don't know what's ahead. For now, it will be Netflix, reading and sleep."
In one of the photos, Malala can be seen covered in cake and confetti, an Oxford tradition known as "trashing" where students are playfully dirtied to celebrate finishing their exams.
In 2012, she was attacked for saying girls should be allowed to go to school. While traveling home from school after years of publicly championing this matter, Malala was shot in the side of the head, neck, and shoulder by Taliban soldiers.
Once she had recovered from her near-fatal injuries, Malala and her family moved to the UK where she continued to be a vocal advocate for human rights.
Just three years later, she began studying at Oxford University, though a year later she admitted to People that she had been quite nervous about pursuing her degree:
"I was worried about how I would make friends. People knew me already and that was challenging for me to be there as a student and not to be there as a person who’s already known in the media. But once I came, everyone here just welcomed me as a friend and I was just so happy that I am part of Oxford. I am just an Oxford student and I think that’s how they treat me."
On social media, comments have continued to pour in as people rush to congratulate Malala on this incredible achievement.
"Wonderful! You are a true inspiration to girls all over the world," Turkish British author and women's rights activist Elif Shafak wrote. "My heartfelt congratulations."
NASA astronaut Anne McClain chimed in, "Congratulations on your graduation @Malala! For so many, higher education is the start of great things. For you, great things preceded it and I can only imagine the even greater ones to follow. The world is lucky to have you on it."
Congratulations, Malala, and we can't wait to see what you do next!
