In the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Because my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a large multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the canteen, where we picked up meals, sat down, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.
Beside me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The engineering student approached me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my interviewer that I lacked the necessary 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 worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I lacked the courage or self-assurance to approach someone at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.
Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a role in Europe where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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