🔗 Share this article A Story of Surprising Generosity: When a Student Allowed Me to Sleep on Her Dorm Ground During 2006, I made a trip to the Australian capital for an admissions interview for medical school. I assumed to arrange accommodation after getting there, however upon reaching the city, a major event was happening and all the backpackers hostels and affordable lodging were completely sold out. Hailing from the city-state of Singapore, I thought perhaps I could spend the night at the airport – only to discover the local airport, not like the one back home, does not operate around the clock. Not knowing what my next move should be and growing worried, I boarded a city-bound bus and found myself drifting in the direction of the casino, believing it was a place to spend the evening somewhere that stayed open 24/7. That wouldn’t put me at my peak for nailing the admissions interview the next morning, but as a cash-strapped student, I couldn’t afford. Our society requires more individuals with such compassion. I must have looked lost since a young woman spotted me wandering around the city and wondered if I was OK. I shared my predicament and immediately she offered I was welcome to sleep on a spare mattress in her student dorm at ANU – which was perfect, considering that was where the important interview was the following day. She even offered a meal: a leftover stuffed baguettes she brought back her part-time job. This gave me warm shower facilities and a protected spot to rest to sleep. With hindsight, I can appreciate the significant risk she accepted being a woman allowing a guy she had only just encountered sleep on her floor. At that time I operated under a bubble of male privilege and not even thinking about things like that. Today, as a parent, it astounds me she took that chance – and remain very grateful. I never did attending that university, and I lost touch with the student afterwards, yet her memory has stayed with me her amazing act of human compassion. My sincere desire is that karma has rewarded her act of kindness many times over. Our society requires more individuals with such compassion.