During the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He asked me what I my profession was, and I explained that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I ought to seek a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his name, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in numerous aspects. I would never have had the confidence or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that gig at Columbia resulted in a position in Switzerland where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. 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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