In the late 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my friend was interested in starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Beside me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did for a living, and I explained that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – right next door to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that evening. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but immediately informed my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the courage or self-belief to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia led me to a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
Can you recall the Nicest Thing a Unknown Person Has Ever Done for You?
From making your day to altering your path, we want to hear about random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are 18 or over, without revealing your identity if you choose. The stories you tell are confidential, and will only be used the purpose of this feature.
