Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.
Sofia Burnett
As an artist I tend to work intuitively. I draw inspiration from the world around me and things that make my heart sing. As a business woman, I have to work proactively to predict trends, as well as reactively to pivot when things are (or aren’t) working. I learned early on that the things you create will sometimes resonate with your audience, will find common ground and spark connection. Other times, may mean a lot to you but fall flat when launched to the public. It takes a lot of trial and error to make headway, and in order to keep going you have to remember not to take things personally and that all of these experiences are lessons leading you on your own unique path. Read more>>
Katie Dinonno
I grew up with 2 parents who were Alcoholics. Although they were amazing parents it made for a rough childhood. When I was around 12 years old they both became sober through rehab and AA. Life was good until a year after that my father became very sick and passed away within a year of diagnosis of Lymphoma at the age of 37. My mom was very strong. She became my role model. I wanted to be resilient just like she was. Sadly 7 years later at the age of 45 my mother passed away from cancer as well, I was only 21 years old and no where near ready to be a responsible adult. Within 3 months of her passing bills were coming in and I was struggling to pay them as they were already past due. Read more>>
Joanne Lai
My personal journey has been profoundly shaped by my own experiences of juggling multiple identities, cultures, and the often overwhelming expectations that accompany them. This path led to a deeply personal exploration of resilience and self-acceptance. Read more>>
Jamie Gabrielle Karimi
When I think about resilience, I picture my parents, who immigrated to this country from the Philippines with little but a dream and a work ethic that could move mountains. They both came from challenging beginnings, where opportunities were scarce and obstacles were many, yet they held on to the hope of a better future, determined to carve out a life they could be proud of. Growing up in this environment, resilience wasn’t something explicitly taught—it was simply how life was lived. It was the quiet persistence of early mornings and long days, the resolve that pushed them forward even when it seemed the odds were stacked against them. Read more>>
Daffne Rodriguez
I definitely get my resillience from my parents. Growing up I’ve always seen my parents overcome countless obstacles and still find ways to accomplish their goals despite those bumps in the road. Through their example, I’ve learned to always adapt and recover from all of the curve balls life has hit me with. Career wise, my journey has been a rollercoaster filled with risk taking and being okay. Read more>>
Faseeha Raza Pa-c
I knew I wanted to make a difference with my talent and skills. Although, like many moms, I spent several years raising children and growing my family while holding off on my career. I waited for all 4 children to be in school before I could start my professional journey. I watched as my friends graduated and started working years before me. I thought to myself that everything happens for a reason, and I needed to be patient. Waiting for the right time builds resilience and determination. Read more>>
Natasha Glatz
The funny thing about resilience is that it can only be developed through necessity. If I had time to give you my whole life story, you might assume resilience is what got me through my complex childhood and countless experiences of betrayal, failure, and heartbreak. But resilience was merely the byproduct. What got me through was hope. What allows me to push through the dark seasons is believing so whole heartedly that things can be done differently. Read more>>
Kendra Shealey
My life’s journey has cultivated my resiliency. I am an overcomer. I am filled with gratitude to say that I overcame sexual harassment as a teenager. I overcame cancer at the age of 35 and I became a widow at the age of 44.
Life is unpredictable and everyone’s journey is different, however with grace and my belief in God I overcame all odds! Read more>>
Leigh Hetherington
Resilience was passed down in my family roots… I am a descendent of an adventurous pioneer that ran the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889, and also of Cherokee Chief Red Bird, Chippeway. My grandfather, legendary football coach, Homer Rice, taught me at a young age to learn to “Adjust” on the playing field of life, and also to “never quit”. I was raised in Oklahoma with red dirt under my feet and a huge expansive sky above me. I was always a dreamer, and I was fortunate at a very young age to know my passion and calling in life is to sing, write songs, and tell stories. My hometown of Edmond and near-by Oklahoma City both have a rich and active theater scene, and I was blessed to perform in shows non-stop starting at the age of 5. Read more>>
Brianna Brown Keen
I get my resilience from my family. Watching my mother work her part-time job at a medical center doing coding, but doing the work of three people instead of just one. Watching my father, who woke up at 6am and worked in his office nonstop until late at night to provide for our family. I saw that hard work was important and necessary, not just to get ahead but to survive. Read more>>
Joe Armstrong
Resilience is like water. If you try to hold it, it slips through your fingers. If you try to fight it, you may drown. But you need it to live. Every single day. No one thinks of a snowflake as being particularly resilient, and in truth a singular snowflake is delicate and temporal. But snowflakes, together, formed the glaciers that carved out Yosemite Valley. Snowflakes, together, doomed one of the greatest 20th Century symbols of humanity’s hubris, the Titanic. But they also can be combined to make snowmen, and our very own human bodies are comprised of 60% water. So, in that spirit, accept that you’re part of the creative force in the universe and make things. Give them life. Imbue them with everything that makes you you. And remember that you’re not alone. Find your tribe and treat them like gold. In lifting others up you are also lifting yourself up, because the people you can truly count on in your life will be there for you when you stumble. Read more>>
Aj Musewe
Resilience is like a legacy for me. I come from a line of women who had the “well, I’ll just do it” gene when things got hard or a solution needed to be created out of thin air. My family comes from Kenya, where I was born, and while technically, I am the only child of a firstborn, by our Luo traditions in my family, I’m also the firstborn of a firstborn. Two of my four middle names come from my great-grandmother, who carved her own path when she went against her family’s wishes. She was so sure in her journey that when she was threatened with being kicked out of the family, she took her five children and lived under a tree until she got housing. Read more>>
Zarya Rubin
When I was five years old, I was told I only had a few months to live. Obviously, a misdiagnosis meant that I am still here, five decades later! I went on to experience several other serious medical issues as a child, including major surgeries, that inspired me to become a physician. I had to endure many physical challenges, limited mobility, not being able to do the things other kids did, but I was a superstar in the classroom, and knew that I could use my skills and knowledge to change lives and help others through extremely challenging times. Read more>>
Kenneth Shanika
I’m the second of eight children. I grew up in a working class neighborhood in north St Louis in a house the size of my current garage. From the time I was a toddler I watched my father modify that house. With a shovel and wheelbarrow he dug a basement under the house then moved rooms around on the main floor and finally turned the attic space and basement into bedrooms. I watched him and later as I got older helped him with the constant renovations. Somehow he made space for all eight kids. My father worked several jobs at a time to support his growing family. He left for work before we got up to go to school and returned home after our bedtime. Read more>>
Cole Cipriani
My resilience is born from my drive to succeed, deeply rooted in my upbringing. Childhood for me was far from ideal—a mix of dysfunction and instability that many growing up in broken homes can relate to. But resilience became a defining trait early on. Despite being labeled a child with ADHD and a learning disability, I found that my determination spiked (still does) when I could understand a concept and see where my strengths fit in. Read more>>
Momo Li
I believe my resilience comes from a deep-rooted passion for storytelling and capturing genuine emotions. Growing up, I was greatly inspired by my grandmother, who was a full-time photographer with 50 years of experience. Watching her dedication taught me the importance of patience, adaptability, and always finding beauty in every situation. Her influence, along with my own journey, has given me the strength to keep going even during challenging times. Read more>>
Dj Barnes
I know there isn’t one place where I get my resiliency from. I am a black man who was raised in a village mostly made up of strong black women; this is no doubt where my foundation came from. Seeing the trials and tribulations that my mom, my aunts, and my grandmothers dealt with growing up instilled in me a grit that has helped me become the person I am today. What always stands out when I think about my village is the selflessness that was always demonstrated no matter how dire the moment was. Read more>>
Zoe Kuo
The resilience came from constantly having to push back against the pressures and low expectations from my family. Growing up, I was often treated as the “troublemaker” and had to find ways to cope, forcing me to develop inner strength early on. I spent much time learning to rely on myself, finding strength in things I could control, like my art and studies. The experience of going abroad alone also taught me that if I didn’t stand up for myself, no one else would. Read more>>
Kevin Edilson
I get my resilience from my belief in myself and the belief that one day I will achieve what I set out to do. The source of my resilience comes solely from the image I see of myself every time I close my eyes and see myself in the future. Read more>>
Colleen Beres
It starts with a healthy dose of inherent stubbornness and obstinance. I hate being told what to do, so when the world knocks me down and tells me to stay down, I throw it back in its face as I get back up. This philosophy came in handy for the 12 years I was in a relationship a man who really did love to knock me down. Being on your own in a situation like that, you learn that you have to have grit to make it through every day–and you must make it through every day, because you have no other option. But just as important as how you make it through, is how you make it out. I’m a lover–I believe that love is a healing power, and that everyone deserves it. Read more>>
Gisela A. Lazarte
I think it comes with being Venezuelan, most of us have to develop this quality growing up in constant uncertainty and change, to say the least. Then of course, migrating brings a whole other set of challenges and adversity that you have to overcome and therefore strengthen your resilience. I’m the daughter of immigrants as well, so you could say resilience is almost in my DNA. Nevertheless, I think it’s an ability that you can grow and develop by allowing yourself to take more risks and embracing feeling uncomfortable from time to time if it means getting you somewhere closer to where you want to be. Read more>>
Jasmine Lynn
I was a teen mom and had to grow up quick in certain ways. I didn’t want to dropout of high school so I had to figure out how to be a mom while going to school. I had a very supportive family whom, without them would have made my life that much harder!
But life quickly taught me that I need to learn balance while building a sustainable life. Read more>>
Rhianna Merceir
My resilience comes from two significant and deeply transformative experiences: navigating life with lupus and the emotional journey tied to my abandonment issues related to adoption. Living with lupus has forced me to adapt to constantly changing circumstances, like managing my flare ups and dealing with the physical limitations that can sometimes come without warning. I’ve learned to accept that it’s okay to pivot from my orignial plans, but that doesn’t mean defeat. Instead, I’ve become skilled at listening to my body, pacing myself, and finding pride and strength in moments when I feel most vulnerable and completely ready to give up. Read more>>
Keren Banuelos
Everything I have let go of has claw marks left on it. I’d often wonder why the awful things happening to me were happening. I wondered why the universe kept throwing me around against my will, victimizing myself every step of the way. Everything started to shift when I realized it was happening for me, not to me. A little bit of gratitude can make all the difference in your life. Read more>>
Megan Zina
I get my resilience from this fire inside of me that will never burn out. I’ve always known that I wanted to do something in fashion- as I grew as an artist my vision for my career and life became more clear- it’s the knowing what I want that gives me resilience- along with my drive and support system. Read more>>
Rita Avellar
I believe my resilience comes from a deep-rooted sense of hope and faith that everything happens for a reason and can make me stronger. Throughout my life, I’ve faced various challenging situations, but battling breast cancer was undoubtedly one of the hardest. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I held onto the belief that there was a purpose behind every struggle, a lesson to be learned, and a strength to be gained. Therapy has also played an incredibly important role, helping me process these experiences, stay grounded, and tap into inner reserves of resilience. Together, hope, faith, and therapy have been my pillars, guiding me through life’s toughest moments and allowing me to move forward with a strengthened spirit. Read more>>
Dawn Hope
First and foremost, I learned resilience from my mother. She loved and still (lucky me!) loves me dearly, and has always encouraged me that I could do anything…the world was truly my canvus if I kept showing up and caring deeply. Next, from my two children. From my son, Elyjah I learned courageous resilience. Brave, pick yourself up off the floor, pause, breathe and laugh…A LOT kind of resilience. And, from my daughter, who early in my life ignited my passion for understanding healing and wellness. It wasn’t an easy journey, like many of the journeys we take towards health, healing and wellness. The story goes like a little like this…There once was a spirited and happy little girl who entered kindergarten. Read more>>
Tanisha Frazier
My resilience is deeply rooted in the support and encouragement I’ve received from my family, especially my mom. I had the incredible fortune of parents who were my biggest fans. My mom was there with me every step of the way, traveling across the country for different modeling opportunities and providing the kind of support that built my strength and determination. Her unwavering belief in me taught me the importance of perseverance and helped me develop the resilience needed to navigate the highs and lows of this industry. Read more>>
Jacian Blaze
I get my resilience from times of difficulty and suffering. I always say “The bottom will teach you things the top never will.” and I believe that statement is true. The reason why is because in the midst of battling challenges and rough circumstances, a decision is always made. That decision is to either keep moving forward, or to move backwards. When you embrace the good and the bad, letting everything happen to you, the beauty and terror, you understand no feeling is final. Which for me, gives me a switch in perspective in the moment I am going through something. The dream is free, the hustle is sold separately, you have to work hard for it. When you do what is hard, your life will be easy, when you do what is easy, your life will be hard. You have to learn to be uncomfortable, to become comfortable. And I am never comfortable. Read more>>
Roybert Echeverria
From my sport , the sport that I’m in is insanely ruthless, the highest highest and the lowest lowest , and to be on and stay on I had to learn how to deal and understand the Big Wins as much as The Big Losses , what makes me be a resilience unbroken person mentally and physically!! Read more>>
Terrence “weasel” Smith
I got my resilience from wanting to make my mother proud and understanding that God made everyone unique and special. I always felt special as a young kid even when no one seen it in me. Read more>>
Brett Dean
Thank you for asking – I believe that my resilience comes a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic sources. I wish that I could attribute some of it to mere ignorance, but I feel that I’ve always had heaps of imposter syndrome in everything I do and I’m well aware of things that I could do better. My battle with my own mind and mental health is a constant dialogue of things I’m “doing wrong.” My resilience comes from having great models growing up. My mom was a nursing professor and prior to that she was a nurse in a hospital. When she wanted to be a leader she constantly had men telling her that she would never amount to anything. She set out to prove them wrong and to simply do what she loved which was help others and teach people how to help others. Read more>>
Jesus Contreras
My name is Jesus Contreras owner of HairglowzStudio in Las Vegas. I have been a hairstylist for almost 7 years now. Started off at Supercuts, then became an assistant, and in 2021 became self employed. I became interested in hair, fashion, and beauty at a very young age. At 11 years old I began cutting my own hair because I had a very specific vision that my parents hairstylist could not bring to life. And that’s where my love for hair and beauty started. Read more>>
Quinton Daniels
My resilience is deeply rooted in the unwavering strength of my mother. Growing up in the challenging neighborhoods of Cincinnati, Ohio, life was often difficult. Yet, my mother always ensured that my siblings and I had everything we needed to thrive. Despite the constant presence of adversity, we found a way to persevere together. Read more>>
Zibi Katza
My resilience is deeply rooted in the unwavering power of nature. Observing the intricate dance of life in the natural world has instilled within me a profound sense of strength and the ability to persevere through life’s inevitable challenges. The trees, with their roots firmly planted in the earth, stand tall and resilient, weathering storms and seasons. They embody the essence of endurance, adapting to changing conditions and emerging stronger each year. Similarly, animals navigate their environments with remarkable resilience, overcoming obstacles and finding sustenance, even in the harshest conditions. Read more>>
Tekulve Jackson
Nothing has ever come easily to me; success has always felt out of reach. To make progress, I had to work hard, learn quickly, and push through challenges. Quitting wasn’t an option, so I developed the skills to create my own resources and opportunities. Read more>>
