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During the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a backpacking trip to the European continent with a friend. Because my friend was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there en route to London.

We arrived at the postgrad residence, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS called International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the canteen, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.

Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.

He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility 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 laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.

A day later I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The Iraqi student walked over to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but straight off informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

As is common in NYC – a city where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.

I was employed there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a master’s of international affairs.

I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his full name, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in so many ways. I would never have had the bravery or nerve to reach out at an elite institution and ask for a job. Moreover, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.

Critically, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.

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