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During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to Europe with a friend. Since my friend was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a two-week stay there en route to London.

We reached the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the UWS named International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with other diners.

Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had newly finished with a scientific background and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.

He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I ought to seek a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.

A day later I toured the city, coming back to the dining hall that after dark. The man from Iraq came up to me and informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but right away explained to my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she declared: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.

I held that position for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a master’s of international affairs.

We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I didn't possess the confidence or self-belief to contact anyone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to study abroad, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.

What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I encountered my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.

What is the Kindest Gesture a Unknown Person Has Shown for You?

Whether it's brightening your mood to altering your path, we are interested in random meetings that have remained in your memory.

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