In the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a companion. Because my companion was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the canteen, where we picked up meals, found a table, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The man from Iraq approached me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a place where everything seems achievable – she said: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to approach someone at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York led me to a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Unknown Person Has Once Performed for You?
From brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are an adult, anonymously if you choose. The stories you tell are protected, and are intended for the aim of this article.
