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In the late 1980s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my companion was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.

We got to the student accommodation, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, sat down, and started talking to other diners.

Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.

He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I should apply for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.

A day later I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that night. The Iraqi student approached me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but right away informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

As is common in NYC – a city where anything feels possible – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.

I worked there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to earn a postgrad program in international relations.

We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his name, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to reach out at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.

What's more, that role at the university paved the way for a job in Zurich where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.

Can you recall the Most Generous Act a Someone You Didn't Know Has Shown for You?

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