During the late 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had booked a two-week stay there en route to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I my profession was, and I explained that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, returning to the canteen that evening. The Iraqi student approached me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but straight off informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in multiple respects. I would never have had the confidence or self-belief to reach out at an elite institution and ask for a job. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
What's more, that job in New York paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From brightening your mood to transforming your future, we want to hear about chance encounters that have left a lasting impression.
We invite you to tell us if you are 18 or over, keeping your details private if you prefer. The stories you tell are secure, and are solely for the aim of this article.
