In the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I ought to seek a position with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq came up to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or self-belief to contact anyone at an prestigious college and request employment. Additionally, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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