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During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to Europe with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was exploring starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had arranged a fortnight visit there en route to London.

We reached the graduate housing, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with other diners.

Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He inquired what I did, and I explained that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.

He noted that there was an research lab at the university – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a position with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.

The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that night. The man from Iraq came up to me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

In typical New York fashion – a place where opportunities abound – she responded: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.

I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to complete a graduate degree in global studies.

We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his identity, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-assurance to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.

What's more, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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

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