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During the late 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my friend was exploring starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had booked a fortnight visit there before heading to London.

We arrived at the graduate housing, a big ten-floor structure on the UWS named International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we picked up meals, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.

Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did, and I shared that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – right next door to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I did not possess a US visa.

The next day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that night. The engineering student approached me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my interviewer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she responded: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight 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 postgrad program in international relations.

We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his identity, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in so many ways. I would never have had the bravery or nerve to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.

Critically, that job in New York paved the way for a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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