During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my friend was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a two-week stay there en route to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I consider applying for a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The engineering student approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but straight off informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a city where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or nerve to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that job in New York resulted in a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have a family of four kids. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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