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In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We arrived at the postgrad residence, a big multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with other diners.

Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did for a living, and I explained that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.

He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – close to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.

The following day I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that night. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.

I was employed there for three years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a postgrad program in international relations.

I never saw that student again and I don’t even know his name, but his incredible act of kindness changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.

Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York led me to a role in Europe where I encountered my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That benevolent individual changed my trajectory in life, and I’m always appreciative.

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