Stories & Perspectives on Resilience Building

We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.

Rory Lewis

Resilience, for me, is about continuously pushing boundaries and embracing change. It’s about drawing inspiration from diverse sources and applying that inspiration in innovative ways. The move to Los Angeles has been a catalyst for growth, allowing me to explore new artistic horizons and deepen my connection with my craft. My ability to adapt, persist, and stay passionate about my work is what fuels my resilience and drives me to create meaningful and impactful portraits. Read more>>

Karla Michelle Alvarado

I’ve invested heavily in myself to build resilience. I started by attending resiliency classes to understand the fundamentals. Then, I became a resiliency instructor to help others develop these skills. Eventually, I earned my certification as a master resiliency trainer, which has equipped me with advanced techniques and insights to face challenges effectively. This journey has not only strengthened my own resilience but also empowered me to support others in their resilience-building journey. Read more>>

Crystal Gonzalez

My resilience is probably part stubbornness and part passion. The arts in general is a hard field to get into and as a kid it was made very clear that a lot of people don’t think it’s important or something worth pursuing. My early grade school teachers were easy to dismiss art as a lazy activity and something that didn’t even count as an “occupation” during class assignments like “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In high school, the counselors would not consider a career in the arts as a good route either, they always recommended a “real” job and then “arts” as some kind of secondary thing.  Read more>>

Peilin Kuo

I’m an independent filmmaker based in New York. I’ve been making short films since I moved to New York from Taiwan in 2002. I didn’t go to film school so I make short films to hone my skills. In 2023, after I finished my sci-fi short film “SNEILA: You Will Never Know”, I decided to take on a bigger challenge and make my first feature film “Gan Bei” which is shot in Taiwan and is currently in post-production. Read more>>

Joshua Arnoldy

I can’t say that I’ve felt particularly resilient in my life. There are too many moments where my mind dreams up things a bit bigger than reality wants to let come to light. When I was younger, I had a feeling that I was meant for something great, almost as if nothing could stop my destiny to be something amazing and do something incredible. Growing up in a rural town in North Central Kansas led me to believe that I could do anything I wanted to do. However, with age and time, I realized that I was just a big fish in a small pond.  Read more>>

Corey Digiovanni

I get my resilience from my upbringing. Having grown up in a blue collar household where money was tight and credit cards didn’t really even exist, you could only have what you had the cash for. In other words, today when we want something, its easy just to swipe a credit card to pay for it and as long as you have the room on your “credit” you can have most things. When I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s that wasn’t even an option.  Read more>>

Amanda Marno

I came from a home with little money and started working when i was 13 years old at a Project based youth center. I have learned that i am in control of my destiny, by proving it time and time again. I learned that my actions speak louder than my words and hard work always pays off. I have overcome the fear of a start up entrepreneur by believing in myself and knowing that if i try my hardest i can never fail, and if there is a bump in the road to learn from it. I have personally struggled and seen struggles, and been able to pivot to position myself. Read more>>

Mishell Theriot

Having to face trials head on, it’s made me more patient and stronger. When you’re faced with a natural disaster, you have to make quick decisions. I faced those decisions when I lost my home and businesses to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. When I first started to design jewelry, I was also working as a professional singer in the New Orleans area. I was also an accomplished hairstylist of 18 years. Little did I know I would basically be starting all over again.  Read more>>

Saemi Nakamura

My resilience stems from my desire to understand how capable I can be in living my life to the fullest. I believe that those who truly recognize their capabilities and live up to their potential are the ones who continuously challenge themselves in pursuit of self-fulfillment, without letting setbacks hold them back. Read more>>

Gaylene Knoke

When I think of resilience, I think of times in my life when a life situation hit me really hard. I have always been a person who has explored the opportunity to become more spiritually grounded. I believe that it has been helpful to stay connected to my core values. During the most difficult situations in my life, I have always made my best attempt to evaluate myself, gather strength and pass it onto others.  Read more>>

Chloë-charlotte Crampton

I think I’ve always been driven, motivated and have had a lot of things happen in my life that made me have to grow up very quickly as a child which built my resilience from a young age. I always had a hustler mentality and worked hard my whole life. I fought to get scholarships at the best schools in the UK. I acted for many years and fought to win roles and be the best I could be.  Read more>>

Nicole Elias Seawell

The true meaning of being resilient is the ability to respond to challenges in a way that I not only survive the challenge, but thrive in its overcoming. My ability to “bounce back” is related to my inherent optimistic, non perfectionistic and action-oriented approach to life. I am endlessly curious, grateful for everyday moments, and expecting the unexpected. Rather than ponder “why is this happening to me?” or be stuck in an endless anxious spiral, I focus on what my next action will be- even small actions- which broadens my perspective when things go sideways or unexpected pitfalls/obstacles happen. Read more>>

Stephany Poe

My resilience comes from the many women of color, who look like me who worked twice as hard as everyone else and still get knocked back down several steps all to have their dreams crushed. I saw firsthand, how those crushed dreams halted women in pursuing their dreams and goals. Encompassing that with life’s hurdles, women decided to give up because they could not handle the amount of pressure placed upon them. Read more>>

Britney Sandoval

I get my resilience from Pueblo, CO. This is where I grew up! It is known as the City of Steel & The Home of Heros. It is also known as one of the most dangerous cities in America. Growing up in this environment had many positive and negative experiences which shaped me & taught me resilience. Read more>>

Koby Hyde

I think resilience is within all of us, but having a support system that is encouraging is where that resilient attitude can grow. A little encouragement can go a long way, especially when it is coming from loved ones. I owe that to them, and I have carried that “can do” attitude throughout life. Whenever there is a obstacle in my way, I try to see it as a challenge, and not a burden. Having a positive mindset is essential to becoming resilient. You can’t have one without the other! So, s/o to my wonderful family for instilling a positive attitude when I was just a pup.🫶🏻❤️ Read more>>

Cynthia Facundo

I get my resilience from my mother. She always pushed me to keep going even if I failed the first time. So it is something that is natural to me. She lead by example. No matter what life through at her she just kept trying. She was an amazing women and she didn’t even know that. Read more>>

Soon Hagerty

I get my resilience from my background, family and upbringing. I moved here when I was almost 5 years old as one of the Boat People from Vietnam. I was a refugee after my Dad fought alongside the Americans/South Vietnamese to fight for Democracy. We had to leave after the war as they were going to force my Dad to go into a “re-education camp”. Read more>>

Gabrielle Heslop

My resilience stems from a profound belief that I am destined for something greater than what’s currently in front of me. I’ve always felt a deep calling to step beyond the boundaries of what’s considered safe, driven by the conviction that God has a larger purpose for me on this earth. This inner drive is fueled not only by my faith but also by the desire to make my parents proud and to be able to support them financially. Read more>>

Rachel Cipollone

I feel really lucky to be able to tap into the idea that life is about finding gratitude and beauty always no matter what. Is that difficult often times? Of course! I have days where I don’t feel like being resilient, where I almost wish I could allow myself to slip into the type of despair that I’ve watched loved ones slip into, where they stop living. But in all of those moments, I am always able to find the good. I’m able to remind myself that at the end of the day, we’re here to enjoy, to be kind and believe the best in one another. Resilience is a balance of awareness of what is hard, while appreciating what is good. Read more>>

Dasha Crawley

My resilience is a God-given gift. Every time I feel like I can’t go another step further as it relates to life’s issues and business, God gives me the strength to persevere. My resilience also comes from my strong desire to accomplish my goals and simply finish that which I have started. Life as a creative and business owner comes with its fair share of trials and challenges. Read more>>

Corey Cantrell

I think my resilience comes from multiple areas in my life. Growing up I was raised by my grandmother and mother and I always saw them working hard and never giving up. I never saw them complain but make the best of what they had day in and day out. I took their work ethic with me throughout my life. Once I joined the Army my resiliency was brought to a new level. I learned how to adapt and overcome every situation thrown at me. Never give up had a new meaning and quiting was never an option. Read more>>

John Harmon

I think everyone is tested in their life and sometimes they don’t even see it. Their are different tests that hit us square in the face almost daily. How we respond is what are the building blocks to success. Before I built ObiiGO I was a successful financial advisor and I had challenges daily. Sometimes I didn’t’ want to get out of bed but, you have to access the “pain/reward” emotion and decide what the consequences are. Read more>>

Zane Frederick

My resilience is rooted in my both my parents, and the lemons that life has given me. As nature has shown us, our caregivers are our default role models, and I’ve been lucky enough to have supportive, resilient ones. My parents have both been through their fair share of life’s ups and downs. Through their strength and perseverance, I’ve been able to model and manage my life around that. To look at them and think if they survived the worst of their days up until now, then I can survive my own worst days. Read more>>

Shemariah Pradia

My resilience is shaped by my life experiences, particularly my diagnosis of breast cancer and my journey with lupus. Navigating these challenges has taught me the importance of maintaining strength while fulfilling my roles as a mother and individual. I am committed to finding balance and authenticity in the midst of adversity. Read more>>

Corey Croft

I have taken many losses. Too many to count. Almost as if it were a hobby. In my line of work, in any art and in all of our lives, there are many more defeats than victories. More closed doors than open ones. A lot of cats are better at remembering and celebrating the times things worked out in their favour, their wins, and using that as a source of confidence or self-belief. I’ve become suspect of positive outcomes, when they occur. I tend to downplay them and find the temporary levity hard to enjoy. Read more>>

Christopher Adell

I believe my resilience stems from my experiences and training in the military, where I learned the importance of discipline, perseverance, and adaptability. During my service, I faced numerous challenges that pushed me to my limits both physically and mentally. Those experiences taught me how to stay focused under pressure, and find strength even in the most difficult circumstances. Read more>>

Sanat Charankar

Throughout history, great artists have always been resilient, often going against the grain and doing something different. Obstacles are present on any path, but if you are carving your own, be prepared for plenty of them! My pursuit of artistic passion has been a roller coaster, leading me to unique individuals and unconventional places. Fortunately, I had the right guidance and tremendous support from my parents. Read more>>

Gladys Smith

I believe my resilience is rooted in my spirituality and my true love for life and joy, the joy and wonder of being alive, the ability to see the beauty in the world. My faith also plays a significant role in my resilience and ability to face adversity. Read more>>

Monica Akasha

From a young age, I always sensed that life was more than it seemed, an understanding that anything is possible and that our human experience is just the surface of something much deeper. Even in the darkest moments, when fear of the unknown threatened to overwhelm me, I would remind myself of the beauty of the world and I’m the creator of my world. My journey hasn’t been easy. Read more>>

Christina Phensy

When I was young, I grew up mixed race and queer in a conservative area of Texas. I was a first generation child of a refugee from Laos, because of the communist revolution, so I experienced an array of classism and racism. I think the grit to persevere was etched into my bones from birth. This was one of my strongest qualities that helped me keep going, no matter how hard things got. It gave me the strength to be the person I am, despite the structural social systems and local cultural norms of oppression. Read more>>

Milton Steppe

I draw my resilience from my mother. As a single parent until I was about 10 years old, she tirelessly worked three jobs to make ends meet. Despite her efforts, there were times when the rent, electricity, or water bills fell short, and services were cut off. I vividly remember returning to school without the necessary supplies or clothes, and despite her reaching out to family and friends for help, none was given.  Read more>>

Sevier Crespo

From the awareness of knowing that things can be done, that dreams do come true, that goals do get accomplished. I’m aware of this because I’ve observed others having accomplished these things, which means it can be done. That’s the game of life. You play it and give it your all, be the best you can be. Obviously, some days are better than others. But if you can slide into your grave tattered and beaten, having given it your all, to me that’s a sign you’ve had an awfully good life. Read more>>

Sifu Frank Matos

As a child, I never owned a game system, which meant my encounters with the digital world were fleeting, yet impactful. I would eagerly anticipate my weekly visits to my cousin’s house, where I had the chance to dive into the pixelated adventures of Super Mario Bros. Despite the brevity of these sessions, my resolve was unwavering. I was around 9 or 10 when I first conquered the game, surpassing even my cousin who owned the console. My secret? A relentless pursuit of shortcuts and an unyielding focus on the end goal. Read more>>

Alassane

I think there’s an element of insanity that accompanies any creative ambition. And what looks like resilience could very well be a disregard for the material and logistical circumstances that are absurdly difficult to overcome in this line of “work” – ‘I’ll jump off the cliff anyway’ kind of thing. Regardless of what appears reasonable on paper, if the passion hits a certain level, one seems to not care enough about the risks. Read more>>

Jenny Cresswell

My resilience comes from a deep desire to communicate, and to understand this thing we call life and how we all influence and affect each other. I work in two adjacent fields where in so many cases I should have been knocked down for the count. I am both an academic professor and a professional opera singer. I hold a doctorate from the University of Michigan, where I was a Presidential Fellow through the Rackham Graduate School, as well as a recognized Scholar through the Center for the Education of Women.  Read more>>

Kristy Angelee

I believe I was born with resilience. Growing up with five siblings in poverty—four girls to one bed, sharing clothes, and living through conditions that clearly showed we had little—resilience was woven into the fabric of our lives. Despite the challenges like unwanted critters, utilities being shut off, and cars being repossessed, our home was filled with love, faith in Christ, and parents who never told us we were in poverty. So, I didn’t dwell on it. Read more>>