During the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Because my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had booked a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, found a table, and started talking to people eating there.
Beside me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did for a living, and I explained that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – close to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I ought to seek a position with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The Iraqi student came up to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she responded: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his identity, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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