During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Since my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and started talking to people eating there.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at Columbia University – right next door to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I ought to seek a position with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The engineering student walked over to me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off explained to my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in so many ways. I didn't possess the confidence or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college 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.
Critically, that role at the university resulted in a position in Switzerland where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share 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 eternally thankful.
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