In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a friend. Since my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, sat down, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I explained that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The engineering student came up to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but immediately informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
I never saw that student again and I can't recall his full name, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to contact anyone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that gig at Columbia resulted in a job in Zurich where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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