In the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Because my companion was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I shared that I had newly finished 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 – right next door to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that night. The man from Iraq came up to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the confidence or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that job in New York resulted in a role in Europe where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Once Performed for You?
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