During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Because my companion was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I should apply for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, explaining that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I ventured out, returning to the canteen that evening. The Iraqi student walked over to me and told me 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 attended the interview – but right away informed my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was unable to accept the role.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she responded: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his identity, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the bravery or self-belief to reach out at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that job in New York paved the way for a role in Europe where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
Can you recall the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have left a lasting impression.
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