During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a low-cost journey to Europe with a companion. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had booked a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a job with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but immediately told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she said: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his identity, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that gig at Columbia led me to a position in Switzerland where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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