Malala's story has been a source of inspiration for young people in the UK
Malala Yousafzai has done more to shake up this planet in the first 15 years of her life than many people manage in a lifetime - and her story has resonated with young people thousands of miles from her Swat Valley home.
The schoolgirl from Pakistan was shot by the Taliban in October near her home for campaigning in support of female education, before being flown to the UK for life-saving surgery.
Malala, who had been writing about her experiences on a BBC blog, had a bullet removed from her head in Pakistan and then travelled to a Birmingham hospital in February to have a titanium plate and cochlear implant fitted.
Her story has sparked outrage around the world after the Taliban said they shot Malala for "promoting secularism", and is a stark reminder of how easy it can be to take our basic freedoms for granted.
"I felt embarrassed while reading the article," said Jola, who was part of the group discussions in English lessons at the Robert Clack School of Science, where students reflected on Malala's experiences.
"I moan every Monday morning about getting up and ready for school, whilst girls in other countries, roughly my age, risk their lives for an education. I feel sorry for Malala - everyone deserves equal rights.
"A 14-year-old girl should not have to experience what she has. I respect her for having the guts to stand up for what she believes in. Malala has become a role model. Not just to her country but to us all."
Having left hospital in February, Malala is now continuing her rehabilitation at home with her family and is expected to secure permanent residence in the UK after her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was given a job with the Pakistani consulate in Birmingham.
A fund, set up in Malala's name, will be used to help provide education for all young people. The first grant from the Malala Fund will go towards urging families in her home area of the Swat Valley to keep their daughters in education.
Karimma added: "What Malala did has inspired many across the world, and she is a strong role model. She is also a hero and her bravery and courage is inspiring."
Another Year 8 student, Codey, has followed the story by reading Malala's blog, translated for the BBC, on life under Taliban laws which she has been writing since the age of 11 on the BBC Urdu website.
Regarding an extract from the blog that read: "We hid our books under our shawls," Codey said. "Girls had to pretend they were not students, and risked their lives every day in order to be educated.
"Her dream and ultimate goal is a country where 'education would prevail'. In England this is given to us on a plate. Where Malala lives she has to do it secretly. She even took a bullet to her head for what she believed in."
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