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During the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the canteen, where we picked up meals, found a table, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.

Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.

He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I consider applying for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.

The following day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The engineering student approached me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but right away told my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

As is common in NYC – a city where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.

I was employed there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a postgrad program in international relations.

I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I would never have had the confidence or self-assurance to approach someone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.

Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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