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Back in 2006, I made a trip to the Australian capital for an admissions interview for medical school. My plan was I would book a place to stay upon arrival, but when I arrived, a large conference was happening and every single budget hostels and affordable lodging were fully booked.

Coming from the city-state of Singapore, I thought maybe I could bed down in the terminal – only to discover Canberra airport, not like the one back home, does not operate 24 hours. Unsure of how to proceed and getting a bit desperate, I boarded public transport and started wandering near the casino, reasoning it was a place to spend the evening somewhere operating through the night. That wouldn’t put me at my peak for acing the admissions interview the next morning, yet, as a broke student, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

The world needs more people who show such kindness.

I must have looked out of place because a female student saw me wandering around the city center and inquired if I was OK. I shared the story of my accommodation crisis and without hesitation she offered I could sleep on the ground at her university residence at ANU – an ideal turn of events, given that my my medical school interview would take place the next morning. Generously, she also provided me some free dinner: one of the sandwiches she had taken home her part-time job. I was able to use the bathroom and somewhere safe and safe to spend the night.

In retrospect, I now understand the enormous leap of faith she took being a woman letting a male stranger she’d just met crash at her place. At that time I was in a bubble of male privilege and was oblivious about things like that. Today, as a parent, it astounds me she did that – yet deeply appreciative.

Ultimately, I did not go to that university, and I didn’t meet that kind stranger again, yet her memory has stayed with me her amazing act of human compassion. I hope the universe has rewarded her good deed abundantly. The world needs more folks like that woman.