During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a friend. Since my friend was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had booked a two-week stay there en route to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a big 10-storey building on the UWS called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, sat down, and started talking to fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man studying engineering at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I told him that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I consider applying for a position with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The engineering student came up to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – 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 city where anything feels possible – she declared: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-belief to contact anyone at an elite institution and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, 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 role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Most Generous Act a Stranger Has Once Performed for You?
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