In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my companion was considering enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I ought to seek a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that night. The engineering student came up to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off explained to my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We can make that happen. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his identity, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Critically, that job in New York paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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