“Can you believe her? She’s 240 pounds – no wonder she had a heart attack.” The doctor scoffed as we walked out of the patient’s room. The woman had just received an electrical shock to the heart. I had the opportunity to participate in a summer program at the Medical Center of Plano. I had always been intrigued by hospitals, imagining the excitement as heroic doctors ran around, doing anything to help the patient. For four weeks, I, along with twenty other students, observed everyday life in the hospital. Most of our tasks were simple: discharging patients, making beds, delivering supplies, and putting up with cranky patients and rude doctors. But occasionally, we would witness a helicopter bringing a patient to the ER, an endoscopy procedure, and even a patient handcuffed to his bed.During that time, I learned that too many doctors overlook empathy. Everyone that walks into their hospital is not just another patient; they are an individual. I saw many cases where doctors ignored the patients’ emotions as they presented them with facts while answering questions that were technically accurate but emotionally detached. I searched up “doctors are” on Google, and in the suggestions tab, the first few words were “evil, stupid, useless,” with only the very last word being “heros”. This experience exposed me to the realities of life. Doctors often forget the fundamental lesson we’ve all learned as kids: be nice. Such a simple concept is lost through hours of working and years of studying, but appreciation of hard work will vanish if kindness is not present. To combat this negativity, I started talking more. I interacted with patients as they happily opened up about their past. The obese woman? She used to be a gymnast. I talked to the doctors, finding common interests. Turns out, we all hated sports. After these encounters, I noticed a difference in how they treated me. I learned that simple company can impact someone’s life significantly. Interacting with others made me aware of the personal and emotional needs of each person. Everyone has a story. I’m here to listen.