At the uw spring commencement this week, there will be thousands of stories of overcoming obstacles.

For one soon- to-be med school grad, getting his degree has been a long road... living as a refugee for more than 19 years.

Our amanda quintana is here with his journey to become a doctor.

It took manu habibi multiple tries to get into medical school... finally finding his home here at the u-w.

But it's the challenges he faced before coming to the u-s that push him to feel empathy for patients in pain.

((("nats 22:56 ding ok, john?

59"))) this is where manu habibi belongs (nats?) the u-w medical student is graduating this week - matched with the u-w's anesthesiology residency ((("17:21 that's one good thing about the united states, the possibilities are endless 25 we just have to keep trying 27"))) for a long time, manu has been trying to find his place in the world.

He was born in afghanistan, but after moving with his parents to uzbekistan at age 2, he became a refugee.

((("00:44 they were there when the taliban invaded afghanistan, so they couldn't go back because of that and because they were labeled as infidels and soviets.

55"))) after 19 years.

(((1:42 i grew up there, i learned how to speak russian ))) his family was resettled by the united nations as refugees in the u-s.

Manu - determined to become a doctor.

But at 20 years old, he was already way behind his peers.

One of the barriers facing many immigrants.

((("3:21 mostly by default they pursue this track of working, going into the workforce and never pursuing any higher education 3:29"))) he wouldn't be held back by his lack of classes and experience - on top of it all, a completely new language.

((("20:20 i also have sort of an accent sometimes, everyone knows i'm not from around (here), and so i don't know where i belong 28"))) (((nats with dummy?))) still - he put in the work.

((("4:46 now i'm there, next week i'm graduating and it's a great feeling 50"))) (((dr. kim: 29:37 he is one of the best students hands down that i've had the opportunity to work with.

42))) making madison his home, he's passionate about helping the elderly population with chronic pain ((("12:21 to be honest, whenever i see an older person i see my parents in them 25 butt 30 especially if they have pain, i want to do everything i can to help them 34"))) remembering the sacrifices his parents made to get him right here - where he's meant to be.

(show him with dummy) ((("8:10 i'm hoping that a lot of people will see my story as an inspiration that it wasn't easy, it was a rough road but at the end i was able to achieve it 8:19"))) he tells me he feels like america is his home now.

His family became naturalized citizens while he pursued his bachelors degree in san diego.

He hopes other immigrants see his success and know they can work towards a higher education too.

Thanks amanda