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In the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was interested in starting a postgraduate program in NYC, we had booked a 14-day stopover there en route to London.

We reached the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. After dropping our bags, we made our way to the dining hall, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.

Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been conducting research with electron microscopy.

He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the university – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He recommended that I consider applying for a job with them. I dismissed the idea, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I did not possess a US visa.

A day later I toured the city, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student came up to me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but right away told my prospective employer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a city 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 got complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in global studies.

We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his full name, but his incredible act of kindness transformed my future in numerous aspects. I didn't possess the confidence or self-belief to reach out at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.

What's more, that gig at Columbia led me to a job in Zurich where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

What is the Kindest Gesture a Someone You Didn't Know Has Ever Done for You?

From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about unexpected interactions that have stuck with you.

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