During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a friend. Because my travel mate was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a two-week stay there en route to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS called International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a city where opportunities abound – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his full name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the confidence or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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