Amena Khan
Amena Khan – a Diary of a Scientist:
After being a lifelong word-lover, I snuck my way from the Human Sciences Dept. to the English Dept. at University. I actually remember not even having yet registered for the Creative Writing course, yet turning up to the class to try it out, lying to the lady standing outside about being sent from the Science Department to study the module. In my curiosity, all I wanted to do was to be invisible in the class, to dip my toe into the English Department, unconfident and unnoticed. Then, of course, I realised the teacher was not the gentle lady who was waiting patiently outside the class; instead, it was Mr Peter Lewis himself - not the most gentle nor patient man! He was, of course, brilliant - critical, sarcastic, and (unnervingly for me) VERY vocal about my Scientific background. Sometimes, in front of the whole class, he'd whimsically make a comment about my being from the Science Department. So, deception did not lead to a risk-free, invisible Creative Writing class existence. Instead, Peter forced me to try harder, to refine my writing, and to develop thicker skin! After I left University, I became a Science Teacher in London. Then, I left London, trying to figure out my next move. Now I tutor kids English and Science, and am looking to re-enter education so I can save up to go and study Arabic. I miss studying (said the geek within her).