During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a companion. Since my friend was interested in starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the dining hall, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I told him that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
What's more, that role at the university resulted in a role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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