We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.
Princess Chukwuneke
Honestly, God is my strength in all things. I’ve had several challenges since I graduated high school but if there’s one thing my parents taught me, it’s to always remember that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My parents have also been a huge source of support for me, as well as my siblings. I’d say my resilience comes from knowing I am never truly alone. I mean, to be fair, I’m Nigerian – it’s TOUGH to be alone (even if you want to be haha). Read more>>
Adam Greenfield
I admit, I came to resilience late in life. It wasn’t something I always had or even thought I had until at least my mid to late 30’s (I’m 49 now). The problem with resiliency is you have to struggle to know you’re resilient. And struggle I did. Whether it was as a child, a teenager, or an adult, struggle was just part of everyday life. That, then, bleeds into behaviors and mindsets and before you know it, you’re depressed, on the wrong path in life, losing jobs and money, and pushing middle age without clear direction or even any sense of hope. Read more>>
Gabe Tesch
I get my resilience from my faith in God. When I was 11 years old, I was diagnosed with brain cancer, and it was an incredibly tough battle. But through that journey, I learned to rely on God for strength. My faith gave me the hope and determination to keep fighting, even when things seemed impossible. Now, at 21 years old and a professional race car driver, I carry that same resilience with me every day. It’s what drives me to pursue my dreams and inspire others facing their own challenges. Read more>>
Cristine Silva
My grandmother used to wake up at sunrise when she was the co-owner of the local grocery store. With skilled fingers she kneaded the bread, selected the finest ingredients, ranging from the smoothest sauce to the softest butter. She would stand behind the counter, apron securely tied around her waist, peppering flakes of spices and secret ingredients that were passed down through generations. My grandfather was the one who handled everything else. Read more>>
Cherie Taylor
My life story is one of resilience. My resilience comes from realizing that my life hasn’t killed me yet. I’m the youngest of three girls, born in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. The aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the viewpoint of people outside of New Orleans, about New Orleans is what made me realize I was poor growing up. I knew that my immediate family was not as affluent as my father’s siblings. We lived in the family home where my father, aunts, and uncles grew up, while everyone else moved out of the lower ninth ward to New Orleans East and the Lakefront. Still, my parents loved us the best they knew how to and did the best they could with what they had. I don’t remember wanting for anything that I needed. Read more>>
Meena Thiruvengadam
Like most people, I’ve had to become resilient. Working in a volatile media industry, I’ve had to pivot professionally multiple times. I’ve been laid off. I’ve been rejected. I’ve faced obstacles that felt insurmountable. In hindsight, each of these situations offered a chance to practice resilience. Read more>>
Kim Watkinson
My mother, tennis star, Dorothy Head Knode. 89 career titles, #5 in the world in 1957 and 1959. Semifinalist in 6 Grands Slams. In English and Japanese, on my Kim Watkinson YouTube Channel (@DancingLanguageNinja) I go into greater detail. You can also see photos of my tenacious mom with former Empress Michiko of Japan, Billie Jean King and Althea Gibson. Read more>>
Mia Tarazi
I believe I get my resilience from overcoming a lot of personal battles in life. I have always been a artist since I was young, developing my style, while going through personal battles throughout childhood that took me away from art and creativity, sometimes having a lack of resources only made me more reliant on myself and my creativity to help achieve my art dreams. Even when I thought I had achieved my dreams by getting into a great art program in college, I was struck with the reality that classes don’t really work for me I struggled immensely had a hard time keeping my grades up and would break down throughout art critiques. I struggled with mental health to the point that I had to drop out. Read more>>
Rebecka Larsdotter
I like to believe that humans are created with an innate resilience, like its kind of baked into the concept of life force somehow. The drive to continue to live , really. Because life , at its core, is exactly that. Then, that core energy is tapped into specific things, like for me, sticking with the music and creative art, despite many obstacles and it not always (or ever 😉 ? ) being the most lucrative or easy life path. Read more>>
Lacey Taylor
Great question. I’ve been told that I’m extremely resilient. I believe I got my resilience from my inability to quit. I always told myself that no matter how many times I fail, I’ll never give up. I’m proud of myself for staying true to never giving up. One thing I admire about myself is how I pick myself back up. Read more>>
Jerri Scherff
My resilience comes from my recovery. After over a decade in addiction and alcoholism, I’ve been able to recover, having achieved over 11 years in long term recovery. During my time in addiction, I was a sex worker, a drug dealer, and a failed parent. Overcoming my addiction and healing my family has created resiliency in me that I never imagined I would have. Life still happens. I still have incredibly hard times. But I TRUST MYSELF. I know that I will pull through, because I always do and I haven’t failed myself yet, as long as I show up and tell the truth and try my best. Read more>>
Alexia Hill
Having a chip on your shoulder, even if maybe a little dramatized, can really push you to get shit done and keep moving. The chip on my shoulder that I find myself thinking about is that on distribution day for my high school newspaper, I found someone had already thrown away their issue of the newspaper. There it sat, wrestled in between homework pages, breakfast food trays, styrofoam cups and littered with gum on top. Read more>>
Kristin Gaspar
Learning to be resilient has been a challenging but rewarding journey for me. Even today, I still face difficulties, but I have learned to rely on my faith in God and the unwavering support of my close friends and family. A pivotal moment in my understanding of resilience was when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was just 10 years old. Witnessing her strength and determination as she battled through chemotherapy, radiation, and a mastectomy was genuinely inspirational. Her survival of over 20 years is a testament to her resilience and unwavering faith, which has also guided me through my struggles, such as a miscarriage. I am grateful for the support of my loved ones and the belief that everything will work out in the end as I face life’s challenges with courage and faith. Read more>>
Haro Istamboulian
As a kid, I always had a saying in my head, and I don’t even know where I first heard it. I used to always tell myself that if I was to give up, I’d only be guaranteeing myself that it wouldn’t happen. I’ve gotten resilience from my mother – the strongest person I know. Now, I know that everyone probably says this about their parent, in one way or another. But I speak the full truth. She’s worked a full-time job every week since the 1970s. She became a widow at 39 and still worked full-time, raising two sons and with no one around or offering to help. I have no idea how she did it. Read more>>
Sophia Mogames
My resilience has always been driven by a deep passion for the final project and a clear understanding of the process that brings it to life. In art school, we’re often told to “trust the process,” but that phrase means more than just following a guide given by your professors. It’s about embracing the journey—finding value in your experiences, and pushing forward as success doesn’t come to those who never struggle but those who face their struggles head-on and overcome them quickly, not letting setbacks derail their course too much. Read more>>
