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During the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a companion. Because my friend was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had booked a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.

We arrived at the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we got some food, found a table, and started talking to people eating there.

Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I did, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.

He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the university – close to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I should apply for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was heading off to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.

The next day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The engineering student approached me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I went to the meeting – but right away informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

As is common in NYC – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she responded: “We can make that happen. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.

I worked there for a trio of years. A perk of the job was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a master’s of international affairs.

We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to approach someone at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.

Critically, that role at the university resulted in a job in Zurich where I met my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. It was a total sliding doors moment. That helpful person set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.

What is the Most Generous Act a Unknown Person Has Ever Done for You?

Whether it's making your day to altering your path, we would love to know unexpected interactions that have left a lasting impression.

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