During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.
Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count towards our quiz grade.
“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'.”
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
上护校的第二个月，教授给我们来了个突袭测验。我是个学习态度认真的学生，所以考题做得不费吹灰之力，直到读到最后一道题：“学校女清洁工叫什么名字？”
这无疑是个玩笑。这个女清洁工我倒是见过几次。她高高的个子，一头黑发，50几岁的样子，但我怎么可能知道她的名字？最后一题我一字未答就交了卷。
下课前，一名学生问最后一题是否记入总分。
“当然，”教授说。“在你们的职业生涯中会遇到许多人。每个人都很重要。他们值得你们去注意和关心，哪怕只是报以一个微笑、说声你好。”
我从来不曾忘记那重要的人生一课。我还得知她名叫多萝西。