In the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had planned a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the canteen, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the university – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that night. The man from Iraq approached me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my host that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had always wanted to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.
Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a position in Switzerland where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
Tell us about the Nicest Thing a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?
Whether it's making your day to transforming your future, we want to hear about chance encounters that have remained in your memory.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are 18 or over, without revealing your identity if you prefer. Your responses are secure, and are solely for the purpose of this feature.
