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During the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a friend. Since my travel mate was considering starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had arranged a fortnight visit there on the way to London.

We arrived at the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we got some food, sat down, and started talking to fellow residents.

Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.

He noted that there was an research lab at the university – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I consider applying for a position with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.

The following day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The Iraqi 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. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

In typical New York fashion – a place where everything seems achievable – she said: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.

I was employed there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a postgrad program in international relations.

I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in numerous aspects. I lacked the courage or self-assurance to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. And, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.

Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.

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