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.
Omid Kayhan
I think my resilience comes from growing up in a situation where I didn’t have a plan B. I always felt like if I didn’t push, if I didn’t fight, if I didn’t figure things out, nobody was coming to rescue me. That pressure became normal for me at a young age and over time, it turned into one of my biggest strengths. Read More>>
Carrie Bradley
I trace my resilience back to my childhood, roaming the woods and learning from nature long before I had language for what those lessons meant. The forest taught me how to release control, how to plant seeds—of kindness, of intention—and trust they would grow in their own time, and how to express gratitude when the harvest finally arrived. Read More>>
Ian Burris
I get my resilience from faith. When things seem uncertain I lean into my faith. It keeps me going, keeps my eye on that little light at the end of the tunnel. I’d say blind faith has fueled me through my entire journey. Not knowing how things will work out, just trusting that they will. Read More>>
Word LIfe
I get my resilience from my people, Puerto Rico, the diaspora, my family, and every setback I ever had to fight through. I wasn’t handed anything. Everything I’ve built came from discipline, faith, and showing up even when life tried to knock me down. Read More>>
LaChell Myles
My resilience comes from knowing nothing sent to break me will prosper. My relationship with God is why I have not given up on photography. Also, as a kid I witnessed my mother take care of my sister and I as a single parent. She went through many struggles but never gave up, while teaching my sister and I the importance of having faith. Read More>>
J. Ferron
I think it’s a combination of things. On one hand I’ve always played some kind of sport. Mainly soccer and basketball. And being part of a team and playing at a competitive level makes you build resilience as part of your character. Read More>>
Sophia Love
My resilience comes from everything I’ve lived through and everything I’ve chosen to rise above. I’ve learned how to take pain and turn it into purpose. I don’t just survive things, I grow through them. I still lead with love, even when life tried to harden me. Read More>>
Craig Hendricks
My father set me on the road, learning to persevere. As a little kid, i’d follow him across the plowed-up fields of my granddad’s farm. He would never look back at me. Oh, he knew I was struggling and he always kept me safe, but he let me figure out that I could, and should, keep going and keep up, instead of leaving the field. Read More>>
Beverly Browning
I credit my paternal grandparents for instilling resilience in me. They raised me from 9 months to 13 years old. At the time, they were in their 70s and tired from raising five successful adults on a shoestring budget. Money to feed a third-string child was scarce. Read More>>
Andrei Tone
I get my resilience from a mix of faith, family, and an unreasonable amount of belief that every setback is a setup. I grew up watching my parents navigate life with grit—never loud, never flashy, but steady. That steadiness shaped me. But resilience didn’t really become real to me until I stepped into the world of filmmaking. Read More>>
Stephen Shenboyejo
My resilience comes from a combination of my lived experiences, my creative journey in filmmaking, and a deep internal drive to turn difficult situations into meaningful stories that can impact society. Growing up and building a career in an environment where resources are limited taught me early that persistence is not optional—it’s survival. Read More>>
Ren Oberhill
Resilience is fascinating to me. It really seems to be about getting back up when we are faced with struggle, challenges, trauma, illness, loss. Read More>>
Atticus Roness
I just love what I do. Everything goes to the wayside when I’m singing and playing my songs. All fears, doubts, worries and fatigue, while still present, are null and void when you make art for the sake of it and the love of it Read More>>
Dr Cali Estes
I get my resilience from the parts of my life that didn’t break me — even when they easily could have. I started two companies with just $300 in my bank account, and I’ve been homeless twice, rebuilding my life and career from scratch more times than most people even attempt. Those chapters taught me that grit isn’t a personality trait — it’s a decision. Read More>>
RYAN SELVEY
I get my resilience from my mother. Extremely hardworking and honest she often pushed upon me the importance of keeping your chin up and head on the straight and narrow. No matter how difficult the road comes you can do it if you have the will. Read More>>
LiL Mike & Funny Bone aka ‘MIKE BONE’
Our resilience is accredited to GOD & years of overcoming obstacles, whether it be financial, physical or mental. As indigenous people resilience is ingrained in our ability to adapt to adversity. Read More>>
Temperance Wooden
My resilience comes from a mix of faith, motherhood, and the simple truth that I had to be strong long before I ever felt ready. I did not grow up with the softest life or the clearest support system, so I learned early that if I wanted something, I had to build it myself. Read More>>
constanza carrasco
It is important to first acknowledge that I am Chilean, and our country’s unique geography and history have forged a deeply resilient culture. Resilience is not just a concept here; it is an inherent part of our national essence. In my personal history, one of my earliest significant experiences with resilience occurred at the age of eight. Read More>>
Ali Dundar
In Turkey, I had already built a reputation as a tattoo artist, especially for pet portraits. My work was known, I had a steady rhythm, and I was also involved in helping animals that were living in difficult conditions. It was a big part of my life and identity. Then my wife, our cat, our dog, and I moved to the United States. Read More>>
Kel Jordan
As an artist with multiple autoimmune diseases, it’s easy to give in and give up if I want to. It’s even expected from time to time. My resilience comes from knowing that something will always go wrong, because when I know it will happen, I am prepared. When I’m prepared, I can pivot without being self-critical. Read More>>
Shane Bischoff
I guess I (Shane – The Guitarist/Shouter) personally had to develop it. I have quite a dramatically eventful life. My parents gave me a lot of security, but they also had some heavy arguments that I remember. I got bullied and sexually harassed as a teenager as well. Misophonia got bad when I worked at Walmart (and still is tough for me). Read More>>
Geeta
I believe my resilience is deeply rooted in the journey of starting my life and business from scratch. When I first opened Wax & Facial Center, I didn’t have the luxury of major funding or a large marketing team to pave the way for me; I had to rely entirely on my own two hands and an unshakeable belief in my vision. Read More>>
Chris Barnes
My resilience was built in the wreckage, not the wins. It comes from rebuilding a marriage I almost lost, learning to face my own mistakes, and fighting for a business in a small town where nothing is handed to you. It comes from being a dad trying to make up for moments I cannot get back. Read More>>
Sonya Giddings
My resilience is drawn directly from my relationship with Jesus Christ. In a world where discouragement is common, my faith is the anchor that compels me to press on and continue creating. Read More>>
Shaquilla Williams-Shannon
I’ve navigated challenges — personally and professionally — that most people would find overwhelming. Every setback you’ve survived has been a kind of “training” that strengthened your endurance. The ability to build a thriving brand, run major events, and stay creative while balancing personal struggles points to a deep internal toughness. Read More>>
CJ Grant
I suppose the short answer is from not having everything handed to me. I was sixteen when my father lost his job. My parents sat my sisters and me down and explained that money would be tight for a while. Read More>>
Nadia Voukitchevitch
I truly believe I get it from my mother and my ancestors on both sides of my family. I’ve always felt like I descend from a long line of Filipina, Norwegian, German, Basque women warriors on my mother’s side and on my father’s side of medieval type noble knights who fought in battle in the Kingdom of Serbia with their bare hands Read More>>
Jewel Moore
My resilience really comes from my DNA. I come from a long line of strong, smart, and determined women who’ve faced challenges with grace and grit.Growing up, I watched women in my family turn obstacles into opportunities, whether that meant rebuilding from setbacks, reinventing themselves, or leading with quiet strength when things were difficult. Read More>>
Lindsay Agnew
For me, resilience has always come from curiosity — from the willingness to try new things, explore different paths, and start over when life demands it. It’s about standing on my own two feet and having the confidence to channel my energy and talents into something meaningful. Every time I’ve faced a challenge, I’ve gained not just experience, but knowledge, perspective, and a deeper understanding of what I’m capable of. Read More>>
Oscar Montion
My resilience comes from surviving what was meant to silence me. Growing up in South Gate, I experienced things that could’ve hardened me but instead, they taught me strength. Losing people I loved, being misunderstood in school, and facing violence at a young age pushed me to find purpose through storytelling. Read More>>
Cherelle K.
I honestly think by praying a lot and waking up everyday and working towards my goals and dreams! Read More>>
Ceneé LaTulippe
When I think about resilience, I don’t picture a single moment—I see a mosaic of challenges, setbacks, and triumphs that have shaped every step of my journey. My story isn’t about never falling; it’s about always rising. Read More>>
Darla Grand
My resilience comes from the family that helped raise me — a strong, loving network that included my grandparents Allen and Rosella, and my grandmother Mabel, affectionately known as Mother Mae. My mother, along with my uncles and aunts, played a powerful and steady role in shaping the woman I became. It was truly a family effort— Read More>>
Mije Von Merta-Sustarich
(I am uploading my personal statement for PhD applications) As Tim Ingold writes in Being Alive (2011), “we can understand the nature of things only by attending to their relations—or, in other words, by telling their stories.” This is mine. Read More>>
Lisa Snyder
I wish I could say I had the most nurturing, supportive, and loving parents. Not even close – but that was a blessing. As a child, I learned to “walk on eggshells” and hide my feelings. I tried to earn love through getting near perfect grades and following “the rules” but it didn’t work. I ended up marrying a man (and recently divorced in my 50’s) with behaviors I grew up with. Read More>>
Andrei Tone
I chose the topic of fostering an essential quality—specifically, the discipline and resilience required to build a creative business in one of the most competitive cities on the planet. When people hear “New York,” they picture skyscrapers, subways, and the nonstop hum of ambition. When I hear New York, I picture something more specific: Read More>>
