In the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I ought to seek a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The engineering student came up to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but immediately told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a place where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in numerous aspects. I would never have had the bravery or nerve to approach someone at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, 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 handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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