POP QUIZ

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 mean, i had seen the cleaning woman several times. i could vividly remember, she was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, and of hispanic decent. but how in the world would I know her name? i hardly even talk to her. i give her a polite nod here and there but we never really spoke. i handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward 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.

posted by pinay freestyle @ 2:07 AM

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