During the late 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a companion. Since my friend was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS named International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to other diners.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I should apply for a role with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, returning to the canteen that night. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away 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 can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to reach out at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that job in New York resulted in a job in Zurich where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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