In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to Europe with a companion. Because my companion was considering starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a big ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the canteen, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin 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 recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an research lab at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I ought to seek a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student came up to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but right away told my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight 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 took advantage to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I would never have had the confidence or self-belief to contact anyone 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.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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