During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my companion was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had arranged a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We got to the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man studying engineering 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 using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student came up to me and informed me 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 explained to my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she said: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I lacked the courage or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that job in New York paved the way for a job in Zurich where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Shown for You?
From brightening your mood to altering your path, we are interested in chance encounters that have stuck with you.
Please share your story if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you choose. Your responses are confidential, and will only be used the purpose of this feature.
