During the late 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the canteen, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program 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 science degree and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering faculty, 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 about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that evening. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where opportunities abound – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his identity, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the confidence or nerve to approach someone at an elite institution and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university resulted in a role in Europe where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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