During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a friend. Because my friend was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS called International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I consider applying for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that after dark. The engineering student walked over to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but right away informed my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture changed my life in so many ways. I didn't possess the confidence or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and ask for a job. 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 role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
Can you recall the Most Generous Act a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From making your day to altering your path, we want to hear about chance encounters that have remained in your memory.
We invite you to tell us if you are an adult, keeping your details private if you prefer. The stories you tell are secure, and are intended for the aim of this article.
