During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS known as International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for three years. One of the benefits was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or nerve to reach out at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
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