During the late 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Because my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had arranged a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We arrived at the graduate housing, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the canteen, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Beside me was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I explained that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – close to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
A day later I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that night. The engineering student approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my prospective employer that I was without a work permit, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she said: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I held that position for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Critically, that gig at Columbia resulted in a job in Zurich where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
Can you recall the Most Generous Act a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?
From making your day to altering your path, we want to hear about unexpected interactions that have remained in your memory.
We invite you to tell us if you are an adult, anonymously if you prefer. The stories you tell are confidential, and will only be used the aim of this article.
