During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Because my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.
We got to the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Beside me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at the institution – right next door to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off 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 night. The Iraqi student approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but immediately explained to my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a place where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Critically, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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