In our building blocks of success series, we tackle the various foundational blocks we believe are essential for success. Resilience is near the top of the list, because pursuing greatness almost always means you will face losses, mistakes and tough times along your journey. The ability to bounce back is so critical and we hope the stories below will inspire you to dig deep and discover more of your own resiliency.
Rossanna Ceccato
My resilience stems from a multifaceted journey of adversity and determination. After uprooting my successful venture in Venezuela due to escalating violence, I faced the challenge of rebuilding my life in the United States. Overcoming language barriers, I embraced every linguistic challenge as an opportunity for growth, studying with a dictionary by my side to navigate the complexities of the U.S. startup ecosystem. Read more>>
Monique Shaw
My mother is the source of my resilience. Throughout her life, I have observed her navigate numerous challenges. Her ability to bounce back has always been admirable. I have always applauded her strength in facing adversity. Read more>>
Breann Colpitts
Well, this might ruffle some feathers, but in my opinion resilience comes from surviving trauma. And as a late realized AuDHD (Autism + ADHD = AuDHD), I’ve lived through plenty of trauma. Here’s the thing, when you don’t know you’re a neurocomplex person, you live your life trying to figure out how to fix yourself to be like everyone else or at least that’s my experience. Read more>>
Karin Robbins
My resilience is ever evolving, in many ways, and has been cultivated over the course of years. On one level, it comes from somatic healing and learning how to work with my nervous system so that it feels safe enough to live more and more organically as who I am. Cultivating enough safety to be embodied and engage in the world has been huge. Read more>>
Yichi Chou
I am from Taiwan and studying abroad in Motion Design after I graduate from college. It was a very different experience; however, it was tough to visit and study in a very different country. I encountered a lot of difficulties and challenges; on the other hand, I learned so much, not only in Motion Design but also in soft skills, such as problem-solving, adaptability, and responsibility. Therefore, these taught me to become an independent and stronger person. It gave me different experiences and perspectives to write my stories. These became assets to my design career. Read more>>
Qingru Yang
In my pursuit of exploring various techniques and media, I embarked on the challenge of creating a pop-up book. With no prior training or guidance on pop-up book construction, I relied on online tutorials to grasp the fundamental mechanics. The initial prototype faced setbacks — it wouldn’t unfold smoothly, and the inner pages refused to stand upright. Analysis revealed that the paper was too thin, lacking the necessary support. I replaced it with cardboard, creating a second version. Read more>>
Georgina Mendiola
A big part of where my resilience come from is from the people around me who are constantly supporting me and believing in me. My close friends always remind me of my talent and are my personal cheerleaders .My mom reminds me about how nothing is permanent and how strong I am and my dad , always showed me with example to roll with the punches and to always get back up. Read more>>
Dina Feldman
Witnessing my immigrant mother toil under a mountain of responsibility to give us a future was the most potent lesson in resilience I’ve ever received. With three kids on her shoulders and a minimum wage job, she put me through college. Her resolve was a beacon in the face of hardship. Her fortitude, etched in my memory, has become my armor, guiding me through life’s storms. Read more>>
Katherine Wood
At 29, I can say that the foundation of my resilience was built on my mother’s example and has since been shaped by stubbornness, perfectionism, failure, and the – sometimes delusional – belief that I can do anything. Like many families, ours was broken by the time I went to grade school and as I grew up, I watched my mom work tirelessly to support my sister and me. Read more>>
Galen Sylk
I get my resilience from my parents. They have taught me so much about perseverance, courage, and patience. They prepared me for tough situations and really helped shape the strong and independent person I have become today. Despite facing different challenges, they always provided unwavering support. I learned different lessons from my mother than I did from my father, and often they taught me together. Thanks to the support that they provided, overcoming challenges was something I felt and continue to feel capable of. Read more>>
Maurice Whitfield
What a timely question! This year, my resilience was truly put to the test. For many years, I’ve believed I would be a successful actor and producer because of my talent, great attitude, strong work ethic, and sheer will. This year, during the strikes, I learned a lot about the industry’s actual condition and how little the AMPTP and CEOs of streaming platforms and film/tv networks are concerned with my personal well-being. Read more>>
Abronique Berger
To be honest, I think it is just a part of my core. There is not a single situation or person that comes to mind that I feel would be the culprit. It would be a combination of situations or interactions. As far as I can remember, I just had to be. I think about how I was in full blown labor turning in a test in nursing school. Or how my grandfather was patient in my ICU and I was in charge. He was very sick, but I had to not only be there for my team, but trust my team more than ever. It is engrained in me, I can’t choose every situation or outcome that is given to me. But I can choose my response. My response is to always push forward. Read more>>
Jusup Sandoval
trials and triumphs, speaks of resilience not as a learned skill but as a force forged in the crucible of adversity. As a child grappling with depression and bullying, my resilience grew quietly, unseen but steadily gaining strength. It was not inherited or taught, but nurtured through life’s harshest lessons.
The true test of this resilience came years later, in a life-altering moment. Read more>>
Jameson Matunas
I conjure all of my force through channeling emotion. I learned that it is forged into our behavior to be good and sit still and be quiet. And this influence of control over us creates an attitude and placation of submissiveness. Resilience in quiet suffering is not resilience. It is an acceptance of a slow death of the diminishing of the fire inside of you, It is through this realization, and strength to resist – that no power system will limit the joy and love I am capable of experiencing and providing others. Read more>>
Deana Jean
Seven years ago, if I’d followed the conventional wisdom that had been shared with me about healthcare and Cancer, I probably would not be here today. I was taught that If you have a health concern, you go to your doctor, you trust and follow their recommendations for treatment without question, and everything will work out. But in 2016, I found out the hard way that for a number of reasons beyond my control, conventional wisdom would not work for me. Read more>>
GVE Mike
My resilience forged through years of navigating seemingly insurmountable challenges—situations fraught with uncertainty, scarce resources, and daunting odds stemming from a lack of knowledge. In the face of such adversity, I consistently unearth solutions and bring them to fruition. Read more>>
Seven Nance
My resilience stems from observing my mom; she forged a path where none existed. She didn’t offer excuses or rely on others to solve her problems. Her strength, accountability, and determination to hustle and create opportunities that weren’t readily available demonstrated to me at a young age what it takes to succeed in any chosen world. Read more>>
Matthew Schwartz
I’m not sure. I often think of my grandparents. They lived through the last Great War and pushed through and survived even when they didn’t want to. My parents, grandparents, and all my family have sacrificed so much for me to get here – I owe it to them to never stop, to always be pushing forward, and never cease until I’ve reached my goals. Read more>>
Taura Johnson
My resilience comes from seeing my mother works so hard and diligently to make sure that we have a good life. My family originates from a third world country so we came from nothing. All we know is hard work, consistency and being resilient. No matter what comes my way, I try to perservere. When going through trying times, I ask myself “What is God trying to teach me?” It brings me comfort instead of asking “why me?”. Read more>>
Maya Mor
Growing up overseas, spending most of my life in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, there was no shortage of resilience surrounding me. The free country I walked in everyday that was fought for through two major revolutions through my lifetime both in 2004 and 2014 and now a full scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine and Ukrainians have earned the title of resilience time and time again. Read more>>
Arnö Vön Detritus
My mum. I was raised by a working class single mum. My mum worked really hard to make sure we had everything we could possibly need. She had to fight hard, and work hard, on her own, whilst also looking after me. Not easy raising a kid on your own in your early 20’s. There was no time for nonsense. If you wanted something, you had to work hard for it. She is my absolute hero. Read more>>
Farah Ghatala
My resilience is rooted in my cultural and religious background, as well as a blend of personal experiences. A strong support system, and a mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. I believe in learning from setbacks, maintaining a positive outlook, and staying true to my values. These factors collectively contribute to my ability to navigate difficulties and emerge stronger on the other side. Read more>>
Vincent Frimpong
As I think about where my resilience comes from I would say that it is from growing up as an African child, learning about the world and how I see myself in it differently than most. Now that I am in The United States as a man and an artist I have combined my lived experiences with assemblage of history, my artistic practice, and filled it with a community that I can freely collaborate with. Read more>>
Dr. Catrina
My resilience is deeply rooted in the strength and resilience that runs through my family’s history. I draw inspiration from my grandparents and great-grandmother, who have been enduring pillars of support throughout generations. Their stories of overcoming adversity, facing challenges with determination, and navigating through difficult times with grace have shaped my understanding of resilience. Read more>>
Jami Booton
My Grandfather was my role model, the only one I wanted to make proud especially throughout my academic career. He showed me strength when I needed it the most and always encouraged me to focus on my goals no matter the circumstances. The morning of my wedding in 2018, he passed away. This was definitely one of the most challenging moments I’ve ever encountered in my lifetime. If it wasn’t for him, I never would of had the ability to continue forward marrying the man I call my husband today. Read more>>
Shadcrop
My parents taught me in life no matter how hard you get knock down always keep faith in god while using tools around to build stronger empires. Read more>>
Laurel Winton
I have always had ambition, but learned at a very young age that determination and consistency is what leads to success. I grew up in a family that valued the arts but as I entered adolescence, we lost a lot of the ability to maintain the opportunities I had when I was younger, meaning if i wanted to pursue something. I could no longer depend on my parents to supply the opportunity for me and I would have to find a different way towards the dreams I wanted to pursue. Read more>>
Gwenivere Snyder
Where do I get my residence from…. resilience presents itself in many different ways, at different times in our lives. Mine first started after a near fatal car crash in high school, where I learned first hand about never giving up and learning to rehab my damaged body. Resilence has been a steady theme throughout my life witnessing first hand how powerful it is! Life and career is a long game, a resilient game and one that requires you never give up. Read more>>
Jordan Auten
This is a simple question with a complex, yet unique answer. My resilience comes from within. It comes from my inner voice that is linked to my natural truth, courage, and my strength. It comes from being in the depths of going within and getting to the bottom line of my inner dynamics and how I inner relate to myself. My resilience comes from the wisdom I have received and cultivated throughout my life from going within and confronting deep seeded wounds that were ready to be healed. Read more>>
Shemeka Archer-Grundy
My capacity to keep going comes from watching my grandmother and mother. My grandmother was a single mother of 7 children, worked the same full time job for over 3o years, was active in our church and beat cancer twice. I witness some of this for myself, heard from her children (my aunts & uncles) how she kept them with a cook meal despite it all. Read more>>
Randal Wells
My resilience is tied into my purpose. While times in my life were hard, I knew in those moments of darkness, that this pain was temporary. I find many former foster youth to be extremely resilient individuals. When you lose everything and everyone, you depend on yourself for a lot. I’ve been starved, beaten, and abused, but still found times in the day to smile. I have faith, and that is the source of my purpose and resilience. Read more>>
Valere Ibarra
Growing up, I was raised to believe that dreaming was just a fantasy and my life only consisted of graduating, going to college and working. Beyond that, becoming an actor and doing big things didn’t happen to people like me. This mindset was beyond frustrating. Therefore, I taught myself how to prove people wrong. The constant no’s and the inability to believe that there can be more to life than just working a full time job that I may potentially love or hate was what made me resilient. Read more>>
Shanté DeLoach
I’d like to think I get my resilience from the women in my family who came before me. I think about the things they experienced, the dreams that were deferred in order to adhere to societal pressures of the time. Read more>>
Karina Andrea
I’ve been navigating the entertainment industry for over ten years now. Starting so young meant making endless mistakes, which slowly but surely taught me to not be so hard on myself for failing. When I was 14, I was told by a respected adult in the film/tv industry that I should quit singing. When I was 15, I’d read through negative comments on social media regarding my talent, face, body, etc. When I was 16, I had a New England based shark tell me I was a “boring” artist and didn’t deserve the support I had. The list continues, but nevertheless I couldn’t let it stop me. Read more>>
Mackenzie Burgess
It was extremely difficult first starting my blog–I had little to no views. I really had to teach myself everything there was to know about food photography, website creation, graphic design, and SEO– but it has been so worth it. I have built up my website to reach thousands of people every day from all over the world. Read more>>
Makeba Lloyd
Wow, great question! My resilience is built into my DNA, passed down from my ancestors, particularly my great grandparents, My great grandfather and his 9 children worked their farm for years. My grandmother used to talk about how grueling it was. But, it was rare for a black family to have a farm during the early 1900’s so they were proud, as well as exhausted. Read more>>
Latoya Foster
My mom Helen Collie, Step father Bobby Reed, my sister ObTashia Brewer, and my brother Roderick Reed is where I get my resilience and will to never give up from. Read more>>
Timothy J. Cox
Building resilience takes time, decades even, but to me, building resilience, confidence and an overall feeling of wellness…it’s just been a part of the journey and adventure that has been my life. When I started out as an actor, I often battled issues with self-confidence. Read more>>
Stacye Jones
Growing up as the child of immigrant parents from Jamaica has given me a unique perspective on life. My parents faced numerous challenges and overcame adversity to achieve the American dream, despite lacking access to the resources and knowledge that we take for granted today. They instilled in me the importance of creating a lasting legacy and making a positive impact on our family/others. Read more>>
Kira Parris-Moore
I get my resilience from dealing with adversity from a young age. I have dealt with trauma, bullying, racial discrimination from a child and despite all that, I was able to accomplish a lot. Nothing matters until you make it matter meaning that you can’t allow the heavy things to weigh you down and prevent you from pursuing your goals and dreams. You can still go on to accomplish everything you want to if you just believe that you are capable. Read more>>
