In the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my travel mate was interested in starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the UWS called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the canteen, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I ought to seek a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The engineering student walked over to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately told my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she responded: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to reach out at an elite institution and seek a position. Additionally, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
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