In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a 14-day stopover there en route to London.
We reached the graduate housing, a large 10-storey building on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.
He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I consider applying for a job with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The Iraqi student came up to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off explained to my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an elite institution and ask for a job. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York paved the way for a role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I now have a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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