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Back in 2006, My journey took me to the Australian capital for a medical school interview. I figured to arrange a place to stay when I arrived, however once I got there, a big convention was in town and all the youth hostels and affordable lodging had no vacancies.

As a visitor from Singapore, the idea crossed my mind the possibility of bed down in the airport – only to discover Canberra airport, unlike Singapore’s, is not open 24 hours. Unsure of how to proceed and getting a bit desperate, I hopped on a city-bound bus and started wandering towards the casino, believing I could pass those hours in an establishment that stayed open through the night. That wouldn’t put me in the best shape to succeed at the admissions interview the next day, yet, as a student on a tight budget, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

Our society requires more people with such compassion.

It seems I seemed out of place as a young woman saw me loitering in the city center and wondered whether I needed help. I shared my situation and immediately she offered I could sleep on a spare mattress of her dormitory at the local university – an ideal turn of events, as that’s where my interview was scheduled for the next day. She even offered some food: a leftover sandwiches she had from her part-time job. This gave me warm shower facilities and a protected spot and safe to sleep.

In retrospect, I can appreciate the enormous leap of faith she undertook being a woman letting a guy who was a complete stranger stay in her room. In those days I existed within my own unawareness and not even thinking to such safety concerns. As a dad now, it astounds me she took that chance – but still incredibly thankful.

I never did attending that university, and I lost touch with the student afterwards, but her act remains etched in my mind her selfless deed of kindness. I hope the universe has rewarded her act of kindness abundantly. Our society requires more people who show such kindness.