During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Because my companion was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the UWS called International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and started talking to fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the university – adjacent to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that night. The man from Iraq approached me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an prestigious college and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
Can you recall the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Once Performed for You?
Whether it's brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.
We invite you to tell us if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you choose. What you share are secure, and are intended for the aim of this article.
