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Back in 2006, I made a trip to the Australian capital for an admissions interview for medical school. I figured I would book lodging when I arrived, however when I arrived, a major event was in town and all the backpackers hostels and budget accommodation were fully booked.

As a visitor from Singapore, I considered maybe I could just sleep at the terminal – but quickly found the local airport, in contrast to Changi Airport, does not operate 24 hours. Not knowing how to proceed and feeling increasingly desperate, I boarded a bus into town and began walking towards a gaming venue, believing it was a place to spend those hours somewhere that was open through the night. That wouldn’t put me at my peak for acing an interview the next day, yet, as a cash-strapped student, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

Our society requires more people with such compassion.

Apparently, I appeared out of place as a young woman saw me wandering around the city and inquired if everything was alright. I explained the story of my accommodation crisis and without hesitation she suggested I could sleep on the floor of her dormitory at the Australian National University – which was perfect, considering that was where my interview was the following day. She even offered a meal: one sandwiches she had from her part-time job. This gave me warm shower facilities and a secure location to rest to spend the night.

In retrospect, I can appreciate the enormous leap of faith she accepted being a woman inviting a guy she’d just met crash at her place. At that time I operated under a bubble of male privilege and did not consider to the potential danger. Today, as a parent, it astounds me she took that chance – and remain very grateful.

I never did go to that university, and I didn’t meet that kind stranger again, yet her memory has stayed with me her amazing act of generosity. I hope karma has returned her act of kindness tenfold. We could all use more folks who show such kindness.