During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Since my friend was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – right next door to the engineering department, 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, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that evening. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to approach someone at an elite institution and request employment. Moreover, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Someone You Didn't Know Has Once Performed for You?
From brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.
Please share your story if you are of legal age, without revealing your identity if you choose. Your responses are secure, and are solely for the purpose of this feature.
