Building Blocks of Success: Resilience

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.

Natalie Olivas

My incredible mom for sure. I’ve never seen somebody face so many hardships in life and never once give up. From immigrating from El Salvador to California at 15 not knowing the language or culture, being thrown into a family she doesn’t know and becoming responsible for it but never being accepted at the same time, raising 4 kids while battling an insane autoimmune disease the last 10 years, and now a recent cancer diagnosis, I have never seen her fall and not get back up.  Read more>>

Leiden

As a migrant, Cuban-Mexican woman, I have had to adapt to changes since I was a child. I have learned to find family in my friends. As an artist and person who is dedicated to creating music, I have learned to connect with my center, with what moves me and makes me happy, and try to defend it. I think that’s where my resilience comes from. During the pandemic I learned a lot about solidarity, support, resistance. Read more>>

Heather Gabriel

My childhood was pock marked by many traumatic events. As I am the eldest of three children, I took it upon myself to look after my siblings when such events happened. Even after we went our separate ways, I learned that squelching in the mud of your adversity only feels good for so long and then folks don’t notice you or your pain anymore.  Read more>>

Grace Hefley

My resilience comes from the lessons I’ve learned in my past, the trials I am facing in my present, and the hope I have for a brighter future. Let me be clear, there are days when I have slim to none resilience. The hopelessness shows its dark face, and I feel like I can’t move from the place that I am at. I log on to Instagram and see the millions of other photographers, some with the same storytelling/empowerment niche, and I feel like giving up. Read more>>

Taylor Vacca

When reflecting on my BOLD (Believe, Observe, Love & Dream) Journey, resilience is not simply something we “get,” we have to give the effort; and maybe this could be why it is considered controversial to the conventional? What I am trying to say is becoming resilient is a choice, not a consequence of circumstance, a critique of character or even the case of early childhood countertransference conditioning.  Read more>>

Irving Stokes

Honestly, I think I get my resilience from being able to consistently beat the odds that was against me. As a kid early on I had a lot of obstacles I had to overcome and more times than a few I had to do that by myself. When I realized that God is my help and I can motivate myself to become something great my determination went to another level real quick. Read more>>

Blanche Baker

I got resilience from watching my parents and from growing up overseas. My father was a holocaust survivor. I was never allowed to feel sorry for myself and deeply understood how important it is to appreciate life. We travelled wherever my mother got work as an actress after she was blacklisted in Hollywood. I had to start over numerous times in new schools and new cities so resilience was essential. Read more>>

Jordan Davis-Miller

Last year I could stare out at clouds over The Hilton within the Universal Studios lot. I was a part of their debut stunt show The Purge:Dangerous Waters. In the early hours of day, after the park closed Halloween Horror Nights, after the show, I spent what felt like hours staring at the ceiling of my bathroom, lying still in the tub.  Read more>>

Hector Torres

Several people have played a role. My mother, she raised my brother and I as a single mom and in spite of the many challenges she faced, she did an amazing job and never gave up. She taught us to always keep going and find a way to succeed. Read more>>

Aneudy (Alex) Martinez

I get it from understanding that standing still, will not allow me to get to the next level and that the field laid out in front of me by God is meant for me to play it based on the lessons I’ve earned throughout my existence as of yet. Read more>>

Corinne Bourget

I come from a family of 5 siblings. I was the second child and from my youngest age, I’ve always been independent, always wanted to do everything on my own. I’ve always pushed through every challenges, never had any money, just enough to get by. I always worked hard, while going to school or while started my own business on the side. Read more>>

Sienna Benton

To be honest, simply from a promise I made to a loved one that passed away while serving in Afghanistan. His plane crashed, and it’s something I don’t think I will ever get over. Every veteran understands the sacrifice that comes with serving in the military. Losing loved ones is a life long torment. The emotional weight his death has had on my heart is sometimes unbearable.  Read more>>

Jill Bennett

Without getting into therapy-speak, I’m guessing it’s from my childhood. I came from a broken home with multiple divorces, and parents that were generally unhappy people who felt very much focused on their own issues. Like many Gen X’ers, I was often left to my own devices – to take care of myself, cook, clean, and amuse myself. Read more>>

Rakim Al-Jabbaar

My resilience comes from me growing up in an impoverished scenario. In our condition resilience is a necessity for survival. Most times we’re making miracles with scraps or literally snatching money out of thin air to pay for everyday needs. It’s embedded deep within my subconscious mind. Obstacles will always be present, I was blessed with the ability to overcome them. It’s not always easy but it must be done. Read more>>

Donté Larry

For me, resilience is more than just a buzzword, it’s how we, as a community and a people, rise above our circumstances and create a better world for future generations. We must fight for a brighter future, and that responsibility weighs heavily on me. Young people are experiencing some of the hardest times seen in generations.  Read more>>

Zach Rohe

My mother was the strongest person I’ve ever known and was a great role model. She overcame multiple physical limitations when no one thought she ever could. Read more>>

Renato Ballestas

I get my resilience from my desire to survive, provide, and enjoy what I do. As a Colombian immigrant and father, it is embedded in me to find solutions and continue to work towards my goals regardless of the setbacks. When I came to this country after serving in the Colombian Navy, I saw the opportunity to both create a better future for my daughters and devote my time into creating a business that would allow me to share my passions with world. Read more>>

Hills Snyder

Resilience, self-esteem, generosity, empathy…all the “where do you get your” questions that have been asked, I would give the same answer: Most profoundly, from loss. People and animals that I have known, because there are plenty of them that are part of loss.  Read more>>

Adry Guerra

Building Resilience After Physical Abuse: A Personal Journey Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, and for those who have experienced physical abuse, it becomes an essential trait to rebuild their lives. Here’s an example of how one might develop resilience after enduring physical abuse. Read more>>

Christian Chavez Caicedo

Resilience is an essential quality for any athlete, especially in tennis, where we constantly face challenges and adversity. In my case, my resilience comes from several sources: 1. **Passion for the Sport:** My love for tennis drives me to overcome difficulties. When you truly enjoy what you do, you find the strength to keep going, even in the toughest moments. Read more>>

Kamau El

I get my resilience from my bloodline. It’s in my DNA to be a fighter and to keep going. My resilience comes from a deep understanding of knowing who I am and also my life purpose. I’ve also gained inspiration from my family to be resilient and taught this trait at a young age mainly from observation. Also from studying other resilient people and how they overcame certain circumstances to become successful in their own lives. Read more>>

Johnique Bennett

My resilience stems from an inner sense of pride in my work. I take great satisfaction in seeing a task through to completion and knowing it’s been done well. My drive to push myself comes from within and is not influenced by others’ opinions or ideas. If my efforts contribute to my own happiness or the happiness of those I care about, that is what motivates me to keep going. Read more>>

Kenzie Nesevitch

My resilience stems from an inner sense of pride in my work. I take great satisfaction in seeing a task through to completion and knowing it’s been done well. My drive to push myself comes from within and is not influenced by others’ opinions or ideas. If my efforts contribute to my own happiness or the happiness of those I care about, that is what motivates me to keep going. Read more>>

Sally Station

I get my resilience from pursuing an idea or goal and coming out on the other side in one piece. I may have encountered obstacles along the way, but I have been fortunate in that the majority of my adventures have been positive experiences that have resulted in wonderful friendships, interesting new challenges, and a sense of being capable and worthy. Read more>>

Sharema Williams

I get my resilience from a mother that was a hardworker. She taught me the values of always being my biggest cheerleader and making myself an asset in any situation. Read more>>

Torris Pelichet

I get my resilience from my grandmothers. They grew up during a very challenging time in our country and faced a lot of pain, yet they were always so full of love and joy. Both of my grandmothers raised multiple generations of children and were incredibly passionate about their families.  Read more>>

Rosalee Henry

Resilience is a quality that has been deeply ingrained in me through a series of life experiences and challenges. Growing up in Jamaica, I was surrounded by strong women in my family who navigated life’s ups and downs with grace and determination. My mother, in particular, was a significant influence. She became a single mom with of two after our dad was murdered, often working long hours and facing challenging situations with unwavering dedication. Read more>>

Gary Lun

As a wedding photographer balancing a full-time job outside of photography and raising two children, resilience is essential. Many people say that passion alone can help you overcome all obstacles. While this is partly true, I believe a deep sense of purpose and gratitude is one of the main drivers of resilience. Read more>>