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During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We got to the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with other diners.

Sitting next to me was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. 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 working on studies with electron microscopy.

He mentioned that there was an research lab at the university – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.

The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that night. The man from Iraq came up to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I attended the interview – but straight off explained to my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she said: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.

I worked there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.

I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or self-assurance to contact anyone at an prestigious college and request employment. Moreover, I had always wanted to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.

Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

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