In the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Because my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We got to the graduate housing, a big multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the canteen, where we grabbed food, found a table, and started talking to fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq came up to me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and ask for a job. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that job in New York resulted in a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Ever Done for You?
Whether it's cheering you up to changing your life, we are interested in chance encounters that have left a lasting impression.
We invite you to tell us if you are an adult, anonymously if you choose. The stories you tell are confidential, and will only be used the purpose of this feature.
