In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my friend was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and began chatting with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an research lab at the university – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I ought to seek a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but right away told my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she declared: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for three years. One of the benefits was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to approach someone at an elite institution and request employment. Additionally, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
What's more, that gig at Columbia resulted in a job in Zurich where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Shown for You?
From cheering you up to altering your path, we are interested in unexpected interactions that have remained in your memory.
We invite you to tell us if you are an adult, without revealing your identity if you choose. The stories you tell are confidential, and are intended for the goal of sharing inspiring stories.
