In the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my friend was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I should apply for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The man from Iraq came up to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but immediately informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the courage or self-belief to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.
What's more, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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