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In the closing decade of the 80s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a companion. Because my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had planned a two-week stay there before heading to London.

We got to the student accommodation, a large ten-floor structure on the Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, sat down, and started talking to people eating there.

Beside me was an individual of Iraqi origin enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He asked me what I my profession was, and I explained that I had just graduated with a science degree and had been performing experiments using an electron microscope.

He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed 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 did not possess a US visa.

A day later I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq came up to me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.

As is common in NYC – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she declared: “That can be arranged. When can you start?” I missed my plane to London.

I held that position for three years. One of the benefits was that I also received complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to complete a graduate degree in global studies.

We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in so many ways. I lacked the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an elite institution and seek a position. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that free tuition.

Critically, that gig at Columbia led me to a role in Europe where I met my wonderful partner, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.

Can you recall the Kindest Gesture a Stranger Has Once Performed for You?

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

Feel free to recount your experience if you are 18 or over, without revealing your identity if you choose. The stories you tell are secure, and are intended for the goal of sharing inspiring stories.