In the late 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the canteen, where we picked up meals, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Beside me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the engineering faculty, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I should apply for a role with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
A day later I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The Iraqi student came up to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but immediately informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she said: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in numerous aspects. I would never have had the bravery or self-assurance to approach someone at an elite institution and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
What's more, that job in New York resulted in a job in Zurich where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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