During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a friend. Because my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had booked a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the canteen, where we grabbed food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the university – right next door to the engineering faculty, 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 heading off to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his identity, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-assurance to reach out at an elite institution and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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