In the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a large ten-floor structure on the UWS named International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to fellow residents.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a position with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The Iraqi student approached me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she said: “We'll handle it. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the confidence or self-assurance to approach someone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university led me to a position in Switzerland where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. 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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