What does it take to become a doctor when no one in your family has even gone to college? In this episode, we sit down with Emily Erika — a first-generation Filipina and medical student — as she shares her incredible journey from doubting her dream to becoming the first in her family to pursue a career in medicine.

Emily opens up about the cultural and financial hurdles she faced, learning she had ADHD after struggling through her first board exam, and why representation in medicine matters. She also talks about the mentors who helped her along the way and how she landed a full-ride scholarship to med school — changing not just her life, but her family’s legacy.

If you've ever felt like your dream was too big or too far out of reach, Emily’s story will remind you: you belong here.

Learn more about the scholarship Emily talks about at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/overview

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