During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Because my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had planned a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a big 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the canteen, where we grabbed food, sat down, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I ought to seek a position with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, returning to the canteen that evening. The man from Iraq came up to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his identity, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an prestigious college and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
What's more, that role at the university resulted in a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?
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