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In the late 1980s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Since my friend was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.

We reached the postgrad residence, a big 10-storey building on the Upper West Side called International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the canteen, where we got some food, found a table, and started talking to other diners.

Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been conducting research using an electron microscope.

He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the university – right next door to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I didn’t have a US visa.

The next day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that night. The Iraqi student walked over to me and told me that he had organized a discussion 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 informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I missed my plane to London.

I held that position for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a master’s of international affairs.

I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his identity, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in multiple respects. I lacked the bravery or self-assurance to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.

Critically, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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