In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We got to the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He asked me what I my profession was, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the university – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that night. The engineering student approached me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but right away explained to my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his name, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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