One day at school, I was called to the principal’s office because my skirt was “too short.” When my dad arrived, he challenged the hypocrisy: teachers wore similar skirts, so why punish students? Everything froze in the office.
That moment made me see the unfairness of dress code enforcement—mostly targeting girls. Later, my dad showed me a photo of my late aunt, Laila, who had fought similar battles for student rights.
Inspired, my friends and I started tracking inconsistencies in the dress code. Eventually, the teacher in question was reassigned, the principal retired, and a new policy was put in place: gender-neutral and clear, no more “distracting” rules.
By the end of the year, I received a “Civic Engagement Recognition” award. What started as a simple outfit choice sparked meaningful change—and a family legacy of standing up for what’s right.