Abdel-Lateef, the youngest of seven boys, with a single younger sister, was living a life of poverty in Palestine pre-1948. Despite being illiterate, he possessed the foresight to recognize education as the key to lifting his family from the clutches of poverty and vowed that illiteracy would end with him.

But Abdel-Lateef was not only thinking of his nuclear family. So, when his two eldest sons were of school age, he took them by the hand and visited his siblings one by one, telling them that he was going to enroll his boys in school, offering to take any of their sons with him.

Some of them dismissed the idea, prioritizing the need for their boys to contribute to supporting the family, while others saw the long-term value and entrusted their sons to his care.

That is how Abdul-Lateef - my grandfather – became the turning point for the Abu Mallouh family. From that day forward, generations would reap the rewards of education and break the cycle of illiteracy.

Despite his meager means, my grandfather did everything he could to ensure his children not only went to school but excelled.

When the time came for my father to start school, their financial situation was dire to the point where my grandfather was forced to pull his two eldest sons out of school temporarily to help support the family.

My father, having grown up hearing about the importance of education day in and day out, constantly nagged his father about enrolling him in school at the age of six.

My grandfather was heartbroken that he had instilled this love of education in his child but that he might not be able to follow through just because he could not afford the mandatory "contribution" schools required.

To this day, my father remembers the heartbroken look on his father’s face when he told him he couldn’t afford it. My father begged and cried, and my grandfather eventually broke at his incessant tears, giving him his last remaining five piasters and telling him to go try his luck with the school.

Thankfully, the teacher was impressed by my father's eagerness to learn, and he started first grade. Eventually, his two older brothers were also able to return to school and complete their educations.

But, as impressive as this was, my grandfather was ahead of the times in more ways than one. At a time when women in Palestine were marginalized for the most part – especially in the Bedouin community they belonged to – he defied societal norms when he prioritized his daughters' educations as well.

My three aunts not only graduated from high school - despite the unstable situation and multiple wars in the region – but also completed their higher education at different levels and in different majors just like their four brothers.

My grandfather's vision came to fruition. His seven children received the education he worked tirelessly to provide, secured employment, and slowly but surely pulled the family out of poverty. The majority of his nieces and nephews did the same for their families as well. All because he believed.

Today, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, engineers, CFOs, professors, and so much more. Before he passed away in 1989, he had the privilege of seeing some of them graduate and I have no doubt he died a proud and happy man.

But there is more to his story. His passion for education was so profound that he had one more dream he insisted on making a reality – learning to read. His main goal was to be able to read the Holy Quran so, despite his advanced age, he began the journey of learning to read.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are the times my cousins and I would fight over who would sit in his lap while he tried to read, correcting him as he sounded out the words.

To me, Abdel-Lateef was not just a grandfather, but a hero who changed the trajectory of our family's history through his dedication to education and determination to break free from the chains of illiteracy.

His life serves as a constant inspiration to me, reminding me that with courage, hard work, and faith, anything is possible. Long after his death, his legacy lives on in those who fulfilled his dream of an educated family generation after generation.

I am honored to not just call him my grandpa, but my hero.