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During the year 2006, My journey took me to Canberra for an admissions interview for medical school. I figured to arrange accommodation after getting there, however upon reaching the city, a big convention was happening and all the budget hostels and cheap hotels were fully booked.

Coming from the city-state of Singapore, I considered perhaps I could spend the night at the airport – but soon learned the local airport, in contrast to Changi Airport, does not operate 24 hours. Not knowing how to proceed and feeling increasingly desperate, I caught a bus into town and began walking near a gaming venue, believing I could pass the evening in an establishment operating 24/7. This was not ideal in the best shape for nailing the admissions interview the following day, however, being a cash-strapped student, luxury accommodation was impossible.

Our society requires more folks with such compassion.

Apparently, I appeared confused because a woman spotted me wandering around downtown and asked if everything was alright. I explained the story of my accommodation crisis and immediately she suggested I could crash on a spare mattress in her student dorm at the Australian National University – a perfect solution, given that my my interview was the following day. She went further by offering some food: one filled rolls she brought back her evening job. This gave me a hot shower and somewhere safe and secure to sleep.

Looking back, I now understand the enormous leap of faith she undertook being a woman letting a man she’d just met stay in her room. At that time I operated under a bubble of male privilege and not even thinking to the potential danger. As a dad now, it astounds me she did that – but still very grateful.

I never did go to ANU, and I didn’t meet that kind stranger again, but I’ve never forgotten her amazing act of human compassion. My sincere desire is that the universe has returned her generosity many times over. Our society requires more individuals with such compassion.