In today's episode, I sit down with Michael Chen, an EMT with Austin Travis County EMS and combat medic in the Texas Army National Guard. Michael shares his remarkable journey from joining the EMS Explorer program in high school to his current dual role in emergency medicine. He discusses his experiences during ride-outs, the mentors who shaped his path, and the challenging realities of military medical training. Michael offers unique perspectives on how his civilian EMS experience prepared him for military service, and vice versa. He also reflects on the deeper meaning of service as the child of Chinese immigrants and provides candid advice about staying true to your own path despite external pressures. Listen in, and discover how emergency medicine can transform both careers and lives in ways you might never expect.