In the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Since my companion was interested in starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had booked a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I told him that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The engineering student approached me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she responded: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the bravery or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. 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.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university led me to a position in Switzerland where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Ever Done for You?
Whether it's brightening your mood to altering your path, we are interested in random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
We invite you to tell us if you are of legal age, keeping your details private if you choose. The stories you tell are secure, and are intended for the aim of this article.
