In the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Because my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had booked a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a big ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and started talking to fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I explained that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the university – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I attended the interview – but straight off told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” 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 also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or self-assurance to contact anyone at an elite institution and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.
Can you recall the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From cheering you up to transforming your future, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you.
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