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During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a two-week stay there en route to London.

We arrived at the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the UWS called International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and began chatting with people eating there.

Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did for a living, and I explained that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I ought to seek a job with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.

A day later I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq came up 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 showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

In typical New York fashion – a place where anything feels possible – she responded: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.

I worked there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a graduate degree in global studies.

I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. And, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.

Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

What is the Most Generous Act a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?

From cheering you up to transforming your future, we are interested in random meetings that have stuck with you.

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