In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Since my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS named International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I my profession was, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – right next door to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately informed 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 anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for three years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in multiple respects. I would never have had the confidence or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
What is the Most Generous Act a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From brightening your mood to altering your path, we are interested in random meetings that have remained in your memory.
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