Then one day I got word that he was in the hospital. Apparently， he had been admitted for a hemorrhaging ulcer. The stress of getting the best grades， holding down a job and helping his girlfriend through the medical crisis she was going through had taken its toll on him.
When I visited him in the hospital， I noticed for the first time a sense of vulnerability on the face of my stoic lab mate. I knew that he was aware that I could blow the experiment， and our shared grade would shatter his lofty G. P. A. and possibly derail his chances for graduate school. I assured him I would not let him down and he should only concentrate on getting better. I would do my best. We both knew I' d have to do better than my best.
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 semester 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 semester. My life has been enhanced by our encounter and challenged by this man， who became my unlikely hero.