During the late 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a friend. Because my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, found a table, and started talking to fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq came up to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
What's more, that gig at Columbia resulted in a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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