In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Since my friend was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading 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 made our way to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did for a living, and I shared that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I consider applying for 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.
The following day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his full name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in so many ways. I didn't possess the bravery or self-assurance to reach out at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that gig at Columbia led me to a position in Switzerland where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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