In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had planned a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a large 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.
Beside me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at Columbia University. He inquired what I my profession was, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the university – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that night. The Iraqi student walked over to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away explained to my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his identity, but his selfless gesture changed my life in so many ways. I would never have had the confidence or self-assurance to reach out at an elite institution and ask for a job. Additionally, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York led me to a role in Europe where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
Can you recall the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Ever Done for You?
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