In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Because my friend was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had arranged a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I should apply for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that evening. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but immediately informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in so many ways. I didn't possess the confidence or self-assurance to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. And, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York resulted in a position in Switzerland where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
Can you recall the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From brightening your mood to transforming your future, we would love to know random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
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