During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was interested in starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we went directly to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin studying engineering at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the institution – right next door to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that night. 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 explained to my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she declared: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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