In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Since my companion was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the UWS named International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq came up to 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 gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but right away informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
What's more, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From making your day to changing your life, we are interested in random meetings that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are of legal age, keeping your details private if you choose. The stories you tell are protected, and are intended for the aim of this article.
