During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a friend. Since my companion was exploring starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He inquired what I my profession was, and I explained that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I ought to seek a position with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The engineering student approached me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away explained to my host that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she said: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for three years. A perk of the job was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.
Critically, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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