Dr. Murthy gave such well-thought-out answers about loneliness in ways even we kids could understand. And when we finished, he asked us questions that really made us think. The questions helped me realize that he was genuinely interested in our responses, and they were deep questions that couldn’t be answered with a Yes or a No. I vividly remember Dr. Murthy stating there is real risk to loneliness that can resemble the effects of smoking, with stress on the mind and body being the main danger that can lead to health issues.
After listening to Dr. Murthy, I will try to talk to more people not just for my health but also for theirs. I know now that this challenge is a global problem that not most people even know exists. In my opinion, I think the entire experience as a whole was educational for both parties—the kids and Dr. Murthy. When preparing for the interview, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. But when I arrived, I felt more comfortable and confident the more I took everything in and lived in the moment instead of thinking what could happen. Dr. Murthy had a warm smile and a firm handshake, which showed me that he saw me as an equal.
―Xzavier, CPS Healthy Courier
Watch the interview and read what Healthy NewsWorks students have to say about loneliness, healthy connections, and the lessons they learned from Dr. Murthy.
