Remembering the words of a past teacher, Kurrun talks about his experiences during the pandemic and how he was able to "get ahold of the reins" through it all. Faced with anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurrun sought to uncover why and to proactively discover solutions. When not whipping up a new dish in the kitchen or tutoring young children with learning challenges online, Kurrun can be found in the dojo. A 1st degree blackbelt in Karate and Jujitsu, Kurrun has dedicated a decade of his life to the art and now enjoys his role as sensei. Kurrun’s strong connection to leadership, service, and community is woven throughout a plethora of experiences in the communities to which he belongs. As he moves forward to pursue an interdisciplinary fusion of Mandarin, economics, and medicine, he wants to inspire others to strive toward a more just, empathetic, and promising world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx