During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Because my friend was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the UWS called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments 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 suggested that I should apply 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.
The following day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The Iraqi student approached me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but immediately informed my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his full name, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in numerous aspects. I would never have had the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an elite institution and ask for a job. Additionally, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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