A wise person once said, “The essence of writing is courage.” Leon “Kris” Tungohan believes the same is true of storytelling. As a shy college student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., he found the courage to step onto an open mic stage and share a deeply personal poem about his story of immigration from the Philippines to Oakland, California. That single moment transformed his life. Not only did Kris find his voice that night, but the following day, an audience member sent him a beautiful, uplifting email thanking him for pouring his heart into the microphone. That audience member would later become his spouse. More than two decades later, Kris rediscovered that same spark after attending a Capital Storytelling Immigrant Stories event at Sacramento State University. Inspired by the sheer power from that experience, he helped bring a successful storytelling event to UC Davis Health where he works as a project policy analyst. As a 2026 Story Ambassador, Kris hopes to inspire others to find the courage to tell their own stories and embrace their creativity. He believes that when people share their authentic experiences, they create connection, cultivate belonging, and remind us that our greatest differences often reveal our deepest humanity.