In the late 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a companion. Because my friend was exploring starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had planned a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the canteen, where we grabbed food, sat down, and started talking to fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – right next door to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was heading off 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 approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately explained to my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for three years. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the courage or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that job in New York led me to a position in Switzerland where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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