# METHOD A:
# whole file slurp and split

$him = "";
$enlightenment = "joy";
$trying = "oops";
@fileContents = "";

open(TEST, "test.txt") or die $trying;
local $/ = undef;
@fileContents = <TEST>;
close(TEST);

foreach (@fileContents) {
  my ($person, $wisdom) = split /:/, $_, 2;
  if ($wisdom eq $enlightenment) {
    $him = $person;
    last;
  }
}

# METHOD B:
# line-at-a-time

open (TEST, "test.txt") or die $trying;
$/ = "\n";
while (&lt;TEST&gt;) {
  my ($person, $wisdom) = split /:/, $_, 2;
  if ($wisdom eq $enlightenment) {
    $him = $person;
    last;
  }
}