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During the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a friend. Since my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a 14-day stopover there en route to London.

We arrived at the student accommodation, a big ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and started talking to people eating there.

Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.

He pointed out that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I ought to seek a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.

The following day I went out exploring, returning to the canteen that after dark. The engineering student came up to me and told 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 went to the meeting – but immediately told my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she responded: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.

I was employed there for 36 months. A perk of the job was that I was granted free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.

I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his identity, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I lacked the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an elite institution and ask for a job. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that tuition waiver.

What's more, that role at the university resulted in a position in Switzerland where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

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