In the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to Europe with a friend. Because my travel mate was exploring starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the canteen, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an research lab at the university – close to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I should apply for a job with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that after dark. The engineering student came up to me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she declared: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I held that position for three years. A perk of the job was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a graduate degree in global studies.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I would never have had the bravery or self-belief to approach someone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
Tell us about the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Shown for You?
Whether it's cheering you up to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have stuck with you.
Please share your story if you are an adult, keeping your details private if you choose. The stories you tell are protected, and are solely for the goal of sharing inspiring stories.
