During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had arranged a two-week stay there en route to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The engineering student walked over to me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but right away told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a place where anything feels possible – she said: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for three years. A perk of the job was that I got no-cost classes 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 identity, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I lacked the courage or nerve to approach someone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. And, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university paved the way for a job in Zurich where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I now have a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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