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In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my companion was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had planned a fortnight visit there en route to London.

We arrived at the graduate housing, a big multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.

Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man studying engineering at Columbia University. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.

He noted that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – close to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.

The following day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but immediately informed my host that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.

In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.

I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a master’s of international affairs.

I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his full name, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the bravery or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.

Perhaps most importantly, that role at the university resulted in a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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