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In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we made our way to the cafeteria, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with fellow residents.

Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.

He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at the university – right next door to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He proposed that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.

A day later I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The engineering student came up to me and informed me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.

I was employed there for three years. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a graduate degree in global studies.

We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his identity, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an elite institution and seek a position. Additionally, I had always wanted to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.

Critically, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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