During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a low-cost journey to Europe with a friend. Because my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, 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 Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and began chatting with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the university – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The engineering student approached me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but immediately informed my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where opportunities abound – she responded: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in so many ways. I didn't possess the courage or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. And, I had always wanted to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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