In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Since my friend was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we got some food, found a table, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I ought to seek a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was heading off 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 night. The engineering student walked over to 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 gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but right away told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she declared: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that gig at Columbia resulted in a position in Switzerland where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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