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During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Since my companion was exploring starting a postgraduate program in the Big Apple, we had booked a fortnight visit there on the way to London.

We reached the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the dining hall, where we got some food, took a seat, and began chatting with fellow residents.

Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq studying engineering at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did, and I shared that I had newly finished with a degree in science and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.

He noted that there was an research lab at the university – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I consider applying for a role with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was soon departing to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.

The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I attended the interview – but straight off informed my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where opportunities abound – she said: “We can make that happen. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.

I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I also received free tuition at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a postgrad program in international relations.

I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to contact anyone at an prestigious college and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.

Critically, that role at the university led me to a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

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