A Tale of Surprising Generosity: The Time a University Student Let Me Sleep on Her Dorm Ground

During the year 2006, I made a trip to the Australian capital for an admissions interview for medical school. I figured to book accommodation upon arrival, but once I got there, a large conference was taking place and all the youth hostels and affordable lodging had no vacancies.

Hailing from Singapore, I thought perhaps I could bed down in the terminal – only to discover the local airport, unlike Singapore’s, is not open around the clock. Unsure of how to proceed and getting a bit desperate, I boarded a bus into town and started wandering near a gaming venue, believing I could pass the night in an establishment that was open through the night. This was not ideal in the ideal condition for acing a crucial interview the next day, however, being a cash-strapped student, a pricey hotel was out of reach.

The world needs more individuals who show such kindness.

It seems I seemed lost because a young woman noticed me wandering around the city center and wondered if I was OK. I explained the story of my accommodation crisis and without hesitation she said I could sleep on a spare mattress at her university residence at the local university – a perfect solution, given that my my medical school interview was the following day. Generously, she also provided some food: one filled rolls she brought back her work shift. This gave me the bathroom and a protected spot to rest to sleep.

Looking back, it’s clear to me the enormous leap of faith she accepted as a woman allowing a male stranger she’d just met sleep on her floor. In those days I existed within a bubble of male privilege and not even thinking to such safety concerns. Today, as a parent, I’m amazed she took that chance – yet deeply appreciative.

I didn’t end up go to ANU, and I didn’t meet her again, but I’ve never forgotten that incredible gesture of human compassion. It is my wish life has returned her act of kindness tenfold. Our society requires more folks who show such kindness.