During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to Europe with a companion. Because my friend was exploring starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the canteen, where we got some food, sat down, and began chatting with people eating there.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I explained that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the university – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she said: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and seek a position. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Shown for You?
Whether it's brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.
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