🔗 Share this article

During 2006, I made a trip to Canberra for a medical school interview. My plan was I would book a place to stay upon arrival, however once I got there, a major event was happening and every single youth hostels and cheap hotels were fully booked.

Hailing from Singapore, the idea crossed my mind the possibility of bed down in the terminal – but soon learned the local airport, unlike Singapore’s, closes around the clock. Not knowing quite what to do and feeling increasingly desperate, I boarded public transport and found myself drifting towards the casino, reasoning I could pass those hours in an establishment that stayed open through the night. That wouldn’t put me in the best shape for nailing the admissions interview the next morning, however, being a student on a tight budget, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

The world needs more individuals with such compassion.

It seems I seemed out of place since a young woman noticed me walking aimlessly through the city and wondered if everything was alright. I recounted my predicament and right away she said I was welcome to sleep on the floor at her university residence at the local university – which was perfect, as that’s where my medical school interview would take place the next morning. She even offered some food: one sandwiches she brought back her work shift. This gave me a hot shower and somewhere safe to rest to sleep.

Looking back, I now understand the significant risk she undertook being a woman letting a male stranger who was a complete stranger stay in her room. Back then I was in my male privilege bubble and not even thinking to the potential danger. As a dad now, it astounds me she did that – but still incredibly thankful.

Ultimately, I did not attending ANU, and I lost touch with that kind stranger again, yet her memory has stayed with me her amazing act of human compassion. My sincere desire is that life has repaid her good deed tenfold. We could all use more people like that woman.