In the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a friend. Since my friend was considering starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a big ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I explained that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The Iraqi student walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but right away explained to my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a city where anything feels possible – she said: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for three years. A perk of the job was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or self-belief to reach out at an Ivy League university 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.
Critically, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, 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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