In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we got some food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The engineering student walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but right away explained to my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again 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 contact anyone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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