During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Because my friend was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a big 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – right next door to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I attended the interview – but immediately explained to my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for three years. One of the benefits was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that gig at Columbia resulted in a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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