During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Since my companion was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we got some food, found a table, and started talking to people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I shared that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the university – close to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but right away 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 anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and request employment. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
Whether it's making your day to changing your life, we would love to know chance encounters that have left a lasting impression.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are an adult, without revealing your identity if you choose. The stories you tell are secure, and will only be used the goal of sharing inspiring stories.
