In a startling revelation that sheds new light on her time at Oxford University, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has disclosed how a cannabis smoking experience led to her collapsing and confronting long-buried memories of being shot by the Taliban.
The Oxford Episode That Unlocked Traumatic Memories
The education activist, now 26, described in candid detail how smoking from a bong during her university years resulted in her passing out and subsequently experiencing vivid flashbacks to the 2012 attack that nearly claimed her life when she was just 15 years old.
"It was the first time I'd ever been in that situation," Malala confessed, referring to the cannabis incident that occurred during her studies at the prestigious Oxford institution.
From Pakistani Schoolgirl to Oxford Student
Malala's journey to Oxford represented a remarkable transition from the Pakistani schoolgirl targeted by the Taliban for advocating girls' education to an undergraduate at one of the world's most elite universities. Her admission to Oxford's Lady Margaret Hall in 2018 marked a new chapter in her extraordinary life story.
The activist, who became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate in 2014, has previously spoken about struggling with PTSD following the brutal attack on her school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley. However, this new disclosure provides unprecedented insight into how these traumatic memories resurfaced during her university experience.
The Psychological Impact of Suppressed Trauma
Mental health experts note that traumatic memories can often remain buried until triggered by specific events or substances. Malala's experience highlights how even years after a life-threatening event, the psychological impact can manifest unexpectedly.
"The mind has its own ways of protecting us from overwhelming experiences," explains Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a trauma specialist not involved in Malala's care. "Sometimes, when our guard is down through substances or relaxation, these memories can resurface with surprising intensity."
Life After Oxford and Continued Advocacy
Since graduating from Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 2020, Malala has continued her global education advocacy while also embracing new personal chapters, including her marriage to Asser Malik in 2021.
Her willingness to share such personal experiences demonstrates her ongoing commitment to transparency about the lasting effects of violence and the complex journey of recovery that continues long after physical wounds have healed.
The revelation appears in her upcoming memoir, where she continues to blend her powerful advocacy work with deeply personal reflections on her extraordinary life journey from surviving an assassination attempt to becoming a global symbol of resilience and education rights.
