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In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in New York, we had booked a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.

We got to the student accommodation, a sizeable 10-storey building on the UWS named International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the cafeteria, where we got some food, found a table, 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 asked me what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.

He mentioned that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.

A day later I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student approached me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.

I was employed there for three years. One of the benefits was that I was granted no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to earn a postgrad program in international relations.

I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his name, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I lacked the bravery or self-belief to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and seek a position. Moreover, I had long dreamed to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that tuition waiver.

What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a job in Zurich where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I am raising four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.

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