During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a companion. Since my companion was interested in starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had booked a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the UWS named International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, sat down, and started talking to people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I explained that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I should apply for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that night. The engineering student approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I attended the interview – but immediately told my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she declared: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for three years. One of the benefits was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I didn't possess the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university led me to a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Shown for You?
Whether it's cheering you up to altering your path, we are interested in unexpected interactions that have remained in your memory.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are an adult, anonymously if you choose. The stories you tell are confidential, and are solely for the aim of this article.
