Please.

Tonight I volunteered in Team Center C, the pediatrics wing, of HCMC's Emergency Department.  Due to overflow in the other two centers, there were several patients admitted to Center C who were not children.  I was asked to help move one of these adult patients up to a new unit and on the way the patient, the HCA, and I were chatting about things.  The HCA asked me if I was pre-med - I said yes and so we talked about me becoming a doctor in a few years.  The patient didn't really say anything during this, but before I left, she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Please be compassionate towards your patients." 

This patient was in a lot of physical and emotional pain.  She was scared.  She was confused.  But, she was beautiful.  She told me something that no one has ever told me during this whole pre-med journey that I've been on. I told her that I would and I intend to stay true to that.  I pray that if I am blessed enough to become any type of doctor - I am primarily a compassionate one.

To the patient whose name I don't even know - thank you.