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During 2006, I made a trip to Canberra for an interview at a medical college. My plan was to arrange lodging upon arrival, however upon reaching the city, a large conference was happening and every single budget hostels and cheap hotels had no vacancies.

Coming from the city-state of Singapore, the idea crossed my mind the possibility of spend the night at the airport – but quickly found that airport, in contrast to Changi Airport, does not operate around the clock. With no idea quite what to do and getting a bit desperate, I boarded public transport and started wandering towards a gaming venue, reasoning I could pass those hours in a place operating through the night. That wouldn’t put me at my peak for nailing the admissions interview the next morning, yet, as a student on a tight budget, I couldn’t afford.

We could all use more people with such compassion.

It seems I seemed lost since a woman spotted me wandering around the city center and wondered if everything was alright. I explained my situation and without hesitation she suggested I could crash on the floor at her university residence at the Australian National University – a perfect solution, as that’s where the important interview was the following day. She even offered a meal: one sandwiches she had taken home her work shift. This gave me the bathroom and a protected spot to rest to sleep.

With hindsight, it’s clear to me the enormous leap of faith she took being a woman inviting a guy she’d just met sleep on her floor. At that time I operated under my male privilege bubble and did not consider to the potential danger. As a dad now, I’m amazed she did that – but still very grateful.

I never did attending the Australian National University, and I didn’t meet that kind stranger again, yet her memory has stayed with me her selfless deed of kindness. It is my wish karma has rewarded her act of kindness many times over. The world needs more folks with such compassion.