During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Since my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had arranged a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We got to the graduate housing, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and began chatting with other diners.
Beside me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did, and I shared that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a job with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that night. The engineering student came up to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where opportunities abound – she responded: “We can make that happen. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for three years. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in multiple respects. I lacked the confidence or nerve to contact anyone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that job in New York led me to a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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