In the late 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to Europe with a friend. Because my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS named International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we got some food, sat down, and began chatting with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I ought to seek a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq came up to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately explained to my interviewer that I lacked the necessary 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. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the confidence or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and seek a position. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia resulted in a position in Switzerland where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Most Generous Act a Stranger Has Once Performed for You?
From brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know chance encounters that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are of legal age, anonymously if you wish. What you share are protected, and are intended for the purpose of this feature.
