History often remembers the loudest voices, but true change is also shaped by those who fought in the shadows, often unrecognized. Sylvia Rivera, a fearless transgender activist, stood up for LGBTQ+ rights when even the movement itself tried to push her aside. She sheltered homeless queer youth, fought police brutality, and never stopped demanding justice. Claudette Colvin, just fifteen years old, refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, long before Rosa Parks. Though her bravery was overlooked, she helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. Across the world, Fatima Sheikh defied societal norms to educate girls and lower-caste children in India, opening doors that had been slammed shut for generations. These unsung heroes remind us that change is not always celebrated in the moment, but their courage echoes through time, inspiring new generations to stand up, speak out, and rewrite history

Aradhya Singh
Student
Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar