In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the UWS called International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the dining hall, where we got some food, took a seat, and started talking to fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I should apply for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that night. The man from Iraq walked over to me and informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off told my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she said: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or self-belief to reach out at an elite institution and seek a position. Additionally, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that role at the university paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
Can you recall the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Once Performed for You?
Whether it's cheering you up to transforming your future, we are interested in random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
Please share your story if you are an adult, anonymously if you prefer. The stories you tell are protected, and are intended for the purpose of this feature.
