In the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Since my friend was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had booked a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and started talking to fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I should apply for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The man from Iraq came up to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off explained to my host that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his identity, but his selfless gesture changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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