During the late 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my companion was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I would never have had the bravery or self-assurance to reach out 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 role at the university resulted in a role in Europe where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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