In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to Europe with a companion. Because my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had arranged a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the canteen, where we got some food, found a table, 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, and I shared that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I ought to seek a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in multiple respects. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to contact anyone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. Additionally, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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