FIRST PERSON

SARA MANSOUR

LAWYER & POET

I was happiest when … If you want me to be happy, give me (free) food. You wouldn’t know it but … I entered a comedy competition and performed a fiveminute skit and won the people’s choice award. My

most embarrassing moment … was farting in the face of the laser technician as she was using the machine on the back of my legs. The last time I cried was … when I was sick and I didn’t want to eat tuna but I was too tired to make food. The last book I read was …

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. My favourite film is …

The Intouchables I really want to … get up early and work out. I set my alarm for 6.30am, turn it off then sleep more. My guilty pleasure is … inhaling Sara Lee honeycomb and butterscotch ice-cream while watching Seinfeld. Life has taught me … to keep my heart as open as my mind and see mistakes as opportunities from which to learn. I’m about to … start taking classes to relearn Arabic. My first job was … as a dental assistant. My most memorable work

related moment was … as a lawyer, receiving flowers from clients for the work I did. As a poet, when people come and tell me my poetry resonated. What I enjoy

most about my work is … feeling like somehow, I can still make a difference in this huge and crazy world. Sara will speak at a free event The Future of Feminism and

Diversity at UTAS in Launceston on Wednesday at 6pm and will be guest poet at the Launceston heat of the Australian Poetry Slam on Thursday at The Royal Oak Hotel from 8pm. She will also run poetry workshops and peace assemblies at various high schools. Visit tamarcommunitypeace.org.au