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Back in 2006, I traveled to Canberra for an admissions interview for medical school. I figured to book lodging when I arrived, yet once I got there, a large conference was happening and every single youth hostels and cheap hotels were completely sold out.

Hailing from Singapore, the idea crossed my mind the possibility of spend the night at the terminal – but quickly found that airport, not like the one back home, is not open around the clock. Not knowing how to proceed and growing worried, I caught a city-bound bus and started wandering in the direction of the casino, believing it was a place to spend those hours in a place that was open through the night. Admittedly, this plan in the ideal condition to succeed at a crucial interview the following day, but as a broke student, I couldn’t afford.

The world needs more people with such compassion.

I must have looked lost as a woman spotted me wandering around the city center and wondered if everything was alright. I explained the story of my accommodation crisis and right away she offered I could crash on the ground in her student dorm at the local university – which was perfect, considering that was where my medical school interview was scheduled for the next day. Generously, she also provided some food: one filled rolls she had from her part-time job. This gave me a hot shower and somewhere safe and safe to spend the night.

Looking back, I can appreciate the enormous leap of faith she took as a young woman letting a guy she had only just encountered crash at her place. Back then I operated under a bubble of male privilege and did not consider about things like that. Today, as a parent, I am astonished she did that – yet incredibly thankful.

I never did attending the Australian National University, and I didn’t meet her again, yet her memory has stayed with me her amazing act of kindness. My sincere desire is that karma has returned her act of kindness many times over. Our society requires more folks like that woman.