After feeling disconnected and unfulfilled during his time at the University of Oxford, Sam Meekings could not have imagined a future in academia. But a spontaneous move to China, a love for storytelling, and a journey across continents led him to a meaningful career and a home at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q).

Meekings, an associate professor in the Liberal Arts Program at NU-Q, didn’t always envision a life in academia. Born in England, his journey to becoming a writer and educator was anything but expected, shaped by unexpected turns that led him to explore himself, his passions, and the world around him.

At the age of 18, Meekings was accepted by one of the leading universities in the world, the University of Oxford. Studying history and English literature was a journey he thought would be the peak of his academic life. Instead, his years at Oxford were quite a struggle.

“I was lucky enough to get in, and I really hated it,” he says, reflecting on the competitive and elite environment. Coming from a regular state school, Meekings felt overwhelmed in a space dominated by students from private schools. Over the course of his degree, he grew increasingly frustrated, and by the time he completed it, he had given up on his education plans entirely. “I was done with learning,” he says. “That was it.”

But life had other plans. Shortly after graduation, while browsing a career website, Meekings came across a simple advertisement: “Come to China.” With no interview or requirements, the opportunity felt like a door to an unknown path, which was precisely what he needed. “Two weeks later, I was on a plane to China,” he recalls. “I knew nothing about the country. I thought it would be like the Disney movie Mulan.”

Instead of the promised land of Mulan, Meekings found himself in a smoggy city in Hebei province in China and began questioning his decision. “I thought, ‘Oh no, what have I done? I made a terrible mistake,” he admits. But as he started teaching English as a foreign language at a college and exploring the country, his doubts turned into a passion. “I fell in love with China bit by bit,” he says. 

His year in China sparked a lifelong passion for the country, which he has returned to repeatedly over the years. It also inspired his first novel, Under Fishbone Clouds, a Chinese love story narrated by the Kitchen God, a figure in Chinese folklore.

For Meekings, China wasn’t just an inspiration for his creativity. It was also the place that rekindled his love for learning. After returning to England, he decided to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing. “I wanted to do something just for me,” he says. “Writing stories and poems sounded perfect.” The experience was life-changing, leading him to his first Ph.D. degree and eventually to teaching.  

Over the years, he discovered a balance between his passions for writing and education. “This is the perfect mix for me,” he says. “A bit of creative writing, a bit of research, a bit of teaching … a little bit of everything, really.”

Now, as a British professor at NU-Q, Meekings has finally found a community that resonates with his values and passion. Although he first saw his position as temporary, he now finds it hard to leave. Comparing NU-Q to larger universities, he emphasizes its close-knit environment. “At other universities, you might have a thousand incoming students and barely get to know them. Here, you get to know almost everyone. The scale and size foster a wonderful sense of community and shared purpose.” 

Outside of academia, Meekings’ life is filled with fun. From singing on Chinese national TV during the Spring Festival to being a child model for school uniforms and even wanting to be a dog as a kid, his life has been far from ordinary. “They seemed like fun!” he says, laughing.

When teaching English literature, Meekings encourages students to reflect deeply on their journeys and personalities. One piece of advice he often shares is to “talk to yourself more.” He suggests that students imagine interviewing themselves or even speaking to their reflections. “It can help creatively and provide clarity,” he explains.

Meekings’ journey from feeling lost at Oxford to discovering a passion for writing and teaching in unexpected places serves as an inspiration to many at NU-Q. His life is an astounding example of embracing changes and unexpected turns in life. Whether he’s teaching, writing, or playing Fortnite with his son, Meekings approaches life with curiosity and a willingness to adapt to its surprises and all of its turns.