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During 2006, I traveled to Canberra for an admissions interview for medical school. I assumed I would book accommodation upon arrival, yet when I arrived, a large conference was happening and every single budget hostels and budget accommodation were fully booked.

As a visitor from Singapore, I considered perhaps I could just sleep at the terminal – only to discover that airport, not like the one back home, closes all night. Not knowing quite what to do and feeling increasingly desperate, I caught a bus into town and started wandering near the casino, believing I might spend the evening in an establishment that stayed open all night. This was not ideal in the best shape for acing the admissions interview the next day, yet, as a broke student, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

Our society requires more people with such compassion.

It seems I seemed out of place since a female student spotted me wandering around the city center and asked if everything was alright. I shared my predicament and right away she said I was welcome to sleep on the floor of her dormitory at the Australian National University – which was perfect, considering that was where my medical school interview was the following day. Generously, she also provided a meal: one stuffed baguettes she had from her evening job. This gave me the bathroom and a protected spot to rest to spend the night.

With hindsight, I now understand what a big chance she took as a young woman allowing a man she had only just encountered crash at her place. Back then I existed within a bubble of male privilege and was oblivious about things like that. As a dad now, I’m amazed she offered that help – and remain very grateful.

I never did study at ANU, and I never saw the student afterwards, yet her memory has stayed with me her selfless deed of generosity. My sincere desire is that the universe has rewarded her act of kindness abundantly. We could all use more folks with such compassion.