It was the last day of final examinations in a large Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam before they went on to commencement and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of college study, they felt ready and able to conquer the world. The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.
Jubilantly, they filed into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And their smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essay-type questions. Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. No one spoke as the professor faced the class with the papers in her hand.
She surveyed the worried faces before her, then asked: “How many completed all five questions?”?
Not a hand was raised. “How many answered four?” Still no hands. “Three? Two?”
The students shifted restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”
But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” she said.
“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, she added: “You will all pass this course, but remember that even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun .”
The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson she taught.
It was the last day of final examinations in a large Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam before they went on to commencement and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of college study, they felt ready and able to conquer the world. The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.
Jubilantly, they filed into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And their smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essay-type questions. Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. No one spoke as the professor faced the class with the papers in her hand.
She surveyed the worried faces before her, then asked: “How many completed all five questions?”?
Not a hand was raised. “How many answered four?” Still no hands. “Three? Two?”
The students shifted restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”
But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” she said.
“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, she added: “You will all pass this course, but remember that even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun .”
The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson she taught.
A篇 學無止境
故事發生在一所東部大學裡。那是終考的最後一天，工科生都在談論即刻就要開始的考試。他們臉上都帶著自信。這是畢業前的最後一場考試了，考完後，即是畢業典禮。然後他們將各奔前程。
話題轉到了工作上，有的談起了找好的工作，有的則談論著要找的工作。4年的大學學習給了他們自信，使他們覺得自己足以征服世界。
眼前這場考試，不過是一碟小菜罷了。老師已經說過可以攜帶所需的任何書本或筆記，只要不在考試時交頭接耳就行了。
學生們興高采烈地步入教室。試卷發下來了。看到只有5道論述題，他們一個個臉笑上開了花。
3小時過去後，老師開始收卷。學生們先前的那份自信再也看不到了，而是滿臉驚慌。老師握著試卷，面對全班，大家都沉默不語。
她掃了一眼眼前這一張張不安的臉，問道：\道題全答完的有多少？\沒人舉手。 \做完4道的有多少？\還是沒人舉手。 \道呢？兩道呢？\學生們再也坐不住了。 \那麼一道呢？總有做完一道的吧。\教室裡依然鴉雀無聲。老師擱下試卷，說道：\這我早料到了。\
\我只是想讓你們牢牢記住，即使你們已經完成了4年工科學習，這個領域你們還有很多東西要學。其實，她笑了笑，接著說，\這門課你們都能透過，但要記住，你們雖然已經大學畢業，但學習才剛剛開始。\
多年後，我已忘了這位老師的姓名，但牢牢記住了她的教誨。