In the late 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my friend was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, found a table, and began chatting with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia 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 involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that evening. The Iraqi student 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 gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but right away explained to my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his identity, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or self-assurance to approach someone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
What's more, that role at the university resulted in a role in Europe where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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