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During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was considering starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had arranged a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We reached the student accommodation, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.

Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I should apply for a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.

A day later I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that night. The engineering student walked over to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

As is common in NYC – a place where anything feels possible – she said: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.

I held that position for three years. An advantage of the role was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a postgrad program in international relations.

I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture changed my life in multiple respects. I would never have had the bravery or self-assurance to contact anyone at an elite institution and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.

What's more, that job in New York resulted in a role in Europe where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

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