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During the late 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had arranged a two-week stay there en route to London.

We arrived at the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and started talking to other diners.

Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an research lab at the institution – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I ought to seek a position with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.

The next day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that evening. The Iraqi student 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. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a city where opportunities abound – she responded: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.

I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.

We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to reach out at an prestigious college and ask for a job. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.

What's more, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.

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