During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a two-week stay there en route to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – right next door to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The engineering student walked over to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but right away told my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
As is common in NYC – a place where everything seems achievable – she said: “We can make that happen. When can you start?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his identity, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the courage or self-assurance to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
Critically, that job in New York paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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