During the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Since my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had arranged a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, found a table, and began chatting with other diners.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I did, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I should apply for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but immediately explained to my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his full name, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. Moreover, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York resulted in a role in Europe where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have a family of four kids. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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