I had a formidable task ahead of me. I was in over my head， running the statistical data. I poured more time and energy into that project than I had ever done on any assignment in my life. I was not going to let him see me fail and have it reflect on him. I was working the graveyard shift at my job， so I used whatever quiet time from midnight to 6：00 A. M. to work on the project. The work consumed me. There was a sense of challenge that completely overtook me. The question remained： Was I up to it？
Eventually， the term came to a close， and each team had to present its findings in front of the assembled class. When it was our turn， I did my level best to present his scientific methodology with my showmanship. To my amazement， we were awarded an A！
When I told my lab mate about our shared triumph， he smiled and thanked me for carrying on. Something connected then. Something special. It had to do with trust and the exhilaration of sharing a common prize.
We have stayed close throughout the years. He went on to achieve a doctorate. He also went on to marry his college girlfriend.
I learned more than statistical analysis and experimental procedures that term. My life has been enhanced by our encounter and challenged by this man， who became my unlikely hero.
And in the end， he was right： we have become friends for life.
當古爾利克森博士正在為實驗心理學課安排研究小組時，我默默地祈禱他能夠把我與一個可愛的女生，至少是一個誌趣相投的同學分在一組。總而言之，我希望他不要讓我與那個具有強烈競爭意識、異常嚴肅的家夥做搭檔，這個人總愛穿著深顏色的衣服，並且個性十足。然而一切就像是命中注定似的，躲也躲不掉。古爾利克森博士的分組顯然是經過刻意安排的，我恰恰跟那個我最想分開的人分到了一組。
我走到自己的實驗搭檔麵前，作了自我介紹。他看我的樣子，仿佛我並不存在似的。我感覺到，他似乎認為我會拉他的後腿，並且很可能導致他的平均成績直線下降。他並不完全懷有惡意，隻是給了我這樣一種感覺：無論什麽實驗，如果他獨自去做就會做得更好。我的加入似乎隻會妨礙他的研究，隻能成為他不得不花時間和精力應付的麻煩，因為他是一個能夠獨立完成任務的人，他有重要的事情要做。