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During the late 1980s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to Europe with a friend. Because my friend was considering pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there on the way to London.

We reached the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the canteen, where we grabbed food, found a table, and engaged in conversation with other diners.

Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been working on studies using an electron microscope.

He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I ought to seek a job with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.

The following day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq approached me and told me that he had set up a meeting for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off explained to my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.

Reflecting the city's spirit – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she responded: “We can make that happen. What's your start date?” 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.

I never saw that student again and I am unaware of his name, but his selfless gesture altered my destiny in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and request employment. And, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.

Perhaps most importantly, that gig at Columbia resulted in a position in Switzerland where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

What is the Most Generous Act a Someone You Didn't Know Has Once Performed for You?

From brightening your mood to altering your path, we would love to know random meetings that have left a lasting impression.

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