During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my companion was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had booked a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq came up to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but right away told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a city where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the bravery or self-belief to contact anyone at an prestigious college and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I am raising four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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