Katie's Student of Inspiration

Katie Keen

          We weren't too far into our lessons before she told me. Although her vocabulary was simpler and her speech slower, I understood.  She had moved here from Tehran in order to receive treatments from UAMS and met with me in between the chemo to learn English.

          She was often exhausted by the time she came in; her wig and face dripping with sweat brought on by the unfamiliar Arkansas summer, but she never stopped smiling, loving, and attending lessons, eager to learn.

          Our lessons consisted of all things English, such as verb conjugations, vocabulary building, conversation practice with small talk, but eventually always would end with questions about her health and experience fighting breast cancer in a country in which she did not speak the language.

          She would ask me how to tell her doctors: I hurt here. What is going to happen next? How does it work? I'm scared. We talked about everything, including how she was feeling and what to expect. She wanted to know a lot of medical terminology that I couldn't explain. When I would apologetically explain that I didn't know, she would sweetly smile and say, "Masalay nest," which is no problem in Farsi.

          We studied two times a week for an hour each session for many months. During these lessons, she was mainly just glad to be out of the house, not in the hospital, but we also became close and developed a friendship. I was there to teach her English, which eased her situation and lightened her burden.  She was able to communicate and understand what was going on during a time of great fear and stress. She ended up teaching me about living a good life, having passion to learn, and being kind to others no matter what your circumstances.

          Although we had to end our lessons due to scheduling conflicts, our friendship lasts to this day. I visit her at her job at the cookie shop from time to time to see how she's doing. We are both happy to report her cancer is in remission. She has not had to take chemo for months now, and she is able to work regularly and enjoy her normal, healthy life. We still try to meet up for coffee or a quick English lesson sometimes, but when either of our schedules won't allow it she still gives me her kind smile and says, Masalay nest. Next time.