"Stories in Arabic: An Introduction" by Sutton Amthor
I’ve always been the kind of person to look for magic in the world. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved making up stories. I read so much that my teachers had to confiscate my books to keep me focused during class, and I did everything I could to bring the worlds I found in my books into the world in which I lived. I constructed fantasy worlds for myself to play in, populating them with fantastic little creatures, casting myself in turn as a princess, or a fugitive, or a little girl with magical powers. In moments of boredom, my stories were a source of entertainment. And, in moments of distress, if I got separated from my parents at a store, or someone was mean to me at school, my stories would help me remember how to be strong in the face of fear.
Seeing the new Star Wars with my sister and my dad. My sister goes to the movie theater more than anyone else I know, and whenever we’re both home, we always see a bunch of movies together. Photo Credit: Amthor, 2020
I started writing stories when I was twelve, and it quickly grew into a kind of wild compulsion. I wasn’t good at spelling or grammar, I didn’t know anything about story structure or pacing, and I didn’t have the emotional maturity to write genuinely compelling characters. None of that could stop me. I loved my stories into being, and I dreamed those other people would love them too. Like the authors I idolized, I wanted to write stories that would dig into my readers’ hearts and minds. As such, I always planned to major in English.
Instead, I’m majoring in Arabic.
It’s weird how many people assume this means that I’ve abandoned all the dreams of my childhood, given up my stories, and am now pursuing a more practical job in foreign policy. The conversation follows the same worn-out path: “What are you going to do with that?” asked in a suspicious and surprised tone. “I’m not sure yet,” I respond because it’s the truth. Then, almost as if they didn’t hear me, “Probably government work, right?”
This was my Ballroom Dance Club’s trip to a social swing dance event. I was super nervous about dancing with strangers, but it turned out to be incredibly fun! Photo Credit: Amthor, 2020
Sure, I might end up working for the government. I’m not studying Arabic in pursuit of a government job or any position at all, for that matter. I am studying Arabic because I like it because it reminds me of how big the world is and how diverse. It forces me to think about language in an entirely new way and gives me a chance to learn once again how to read, write, think, and imagine. I am studying Arabic because it feeds the part of me that creates and appreciates stories.
In less than a week, I will leave for Jordan. I am so nervous that I sometimes feel like throwing up, and I am so excited that I can’t stop flipping through my travel guide. It’s an experience that I hope will be life-changing, that I know will change the way I write my stories, and that I am lucky to be able to share with you.
My dogs, Sam (black lab) and Rosie (golden retriever). I’ll miss them the most when I’m away! Photo Credit: Amthor, 2020
My name is Sutton. I’m from an incredibly small town in central Texas, and I’m currently a junior at Kenyon College in Ohio. I like radio dramas, robots, horror movies, microbes, and dancing. I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life, but I know I will tell stories.
And this semester will be the first one.
