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During the year 2006, I traveled to the Australian capital for an interview at a medical college. My plan was I would book accommodation upon arrival, but when I arrived, a large conference was in town and all the budget hostels and budget accommodation had no vacancies.

Hailing from Singapore, I thought perhaps I could bed down in the terminal – only to discover that airport, not like the one back home, closes around the clock. Not knowing how to proceed and growing worried, I hopped on a city-bound bus and began walking in the direction of a gaming venue, thinking it was a place to spend the evening somewhere that was open 24/7. This was not ideal at my peak for acing a crucial interview the next day, however, being a broke student, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

The world needs more people like that woman.

Apparently, I appeared out of place since a woman noticed me wandering around the city center and wondered whether I needed help. I recounted the story of my accommodation crisis and immediately she said I could sleep on a spare mattress in her student dorm at the Australian National University – a perfect solution, as that’s where my interview would take place the next morning. She went further by offering me some free dinner: one filled rolls she brought back her part-time job. This gave me warm shower facilities and a secure location and safe for the evening.

In retrospect, I now understand the significant risk she accepted being a woman letting a guy she’d just met sleep on her floor. In those days I was in a bubble of male privilege and was oblivious about things like that. As a dad now, it astounds me she offered that help – yet very grateful.

Ultimately, I did not attending the Australian National University, and I never saw that kind stranger again, but I’ve never forgotten her amazing act of kindness. I hope karma has returned her act of kindness many times over. Our society requires more individuals who show such kindness.