During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Since my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a big multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that night. The engineering student walked over to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but right away told my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she responded: “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 was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-belief to reach out at an prestigious college and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. That encounter altered everything. 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?
Whether it's cheering you up to changing your life, we want to hear about random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
Please share your story if you are an adult, keeping your details private if you prefer. The stories you tell are protected, and will only be used the purpose of this feature.
