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In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Since my companion was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.

We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.

Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He asked me what I my profession was, and I explained that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – close to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.

The next day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that night. The engineering student came up to me and informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but immediately told my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.

I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a graduate degree in global studies.

I never saw that student again and I can't recall his identity, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and request employment. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.

Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.

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