During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a companion. Because my friend was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He inquired what I my profession was, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I ought to seek a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq came up to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but straight off explained to my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for three years. One of the benefits was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his identity, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I lacked the courage or self-belief to approach someone at an elite institution and seek a position. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Shown for You?
From brightening your mood to changing your life, we are interested in random meetings that have remained in your memory.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you choose. What you share are secure, and are intended for the aim of this article.
