During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had arranged a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He inquired what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that night. The engineering student walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away explained to my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where everything seems achievable – she responded: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his identity, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the courage or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and seek a position. Moreover, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.
Critically, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
Can you recall the Most Generous Act a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?
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