During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to Europe with a travel partner. Since my friend was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, found a table, and began chatting with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I consider applying for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know 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 attended the interview – but immediately explained to my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where anything feels possible – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for three years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or self-assurance to reach out at an prestigious college and ask for a job. Additionally, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that role at the university paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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