In the late 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Since my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the canteen, where we got some food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but immediately told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she responded: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or self-belief to reach out at an prestigious college and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From brightening your mood to changing your life, we want to hear about unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are of legal age, without revealing your identity if you prefer. The stories you tell are protected, and are intended for the aim of this article.
