During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had arranged a two-week stay there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I my profession was, and I shared that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – close to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I should apply for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student approached me and informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I would never have had the confidence or self-belief to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university resulted in a job in Zurich where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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