During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the canteen, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I should apply for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, 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 director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for three years. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I would never have had the confidence or nerve to contact anyone at an prestigious college and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia led me to a role in Europe where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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