In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Since my friend was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the UWS called International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the university – right next door to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that night. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-assurance to reach out at an prestigious college and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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