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.
Courtney Keene
I had a pretty unusual up-ringing on a rural horse farm in the Adirondack mountains. I grew up with alot of different horses, mostly mustangs, and firmly believe there is no better teacher than a Horse. My mom always told me “you arent a cowgirl until you fall off 100 times”. My resilience and work ethic comes from my child hood and being taught that when you fall off the horse you always pick yourself up and get back on, no matter what. Read more>>
MAKAEL
When Life decides to take you for a spin, you better be ready! 2017 was when it all started. Christmas Eve, I learned that my cousin had died, a few weeks later, my grandmother passed away, 11 months later, another cousin was killed, and then 3 months after that, my grandfather passed away. Talking about LIFE has hands! Life took me and my family through the ringer and back! All of that made my mom have a mental breakdown, which then ended up making my mom, my sister, and myself homeless. Read more>>
Bo Dean
I come from an era and city where we didn’t have people to follow for a blueprint on how to make a name for ourselves, so everything was trial and error. We just learned from our mistakes and successes. Being that music (entrepreneurship in general) is something that I love dearly, it wasn’t discouraging to fail, because I knew eventually I would elevate to the next level. Seeing other people in my profession make it that were in the same boat that I was in has always been even more motivation to keep pursuing my aspirations. Read more>>
Lalia Susini
Well, I was forced to overcome my obstacle 🙂 I was in an accident in 2020 and was told I would be paralyzed. I just knew in my gut that this wasn’t my story. With the help of friends, doctors, family, nurses and so many others, I fought my way back and along the way had the pleasure of meeting so many kids in my same situation. My best friend and I had already talked about starting our own clothing line, the timing and the purpose just aligned after my accident. I’m not good with idle time so while I was still in the hospital we began designing with a purpose. Read more>>
Kamilah Campbell
My resilience comes from years of rejection and being told “no.” Believe it or not, being rejected, just made me want to reach even higher when it comes to my goals. I remember years ago, I reached out to a buyer of a well-known retailer to inquire about a wholesaling opportunity. The buyer sent me back an email asking to see my linesheet followed by a request to send in jewelry samples. I was so excited about the opportunity because at that point I had only been in business for 5 years. Two weeks later I received my samples back with the answer of no. Of course, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I later realized that rejection happens for a reason and that made me hit the pavement for opportunities even harder. Read more>>
Kirsten Rehman
As a child, I knew that my parents deeply respected me. I remember from a young age how genuinely curious they were about my ideas, dreams, and perspectives, always asking me what I thought and how I felt about things. I grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where my mom was very involved in building and developing an alternative public school. I remember her coming to me at the age of ten or eleven to ask me, in an age-appropriate way, of course, what I thought about decisions that were happening at an administrative level within the school district, and which would ultimately impact me, the student. Read more>>
Luner Eugene
I truly believe that I have gained my resilience from wanting more out of life. I hate poverty with a passion, and I also believe it’s in my DNA as a proud Haitian man. Coming from a third world country like Haiti, where poverty is widespread, has driven me to never give up. Additionally, knowing that Haiti became the first free black republic in the world, the first independent state in the Caribbean, and the second independent state in the Western Hemisphere after the United States, it feels like it’s in our genetic makeup. Read more>>
Paige Olvera
Honestly, I didn’t have much of a choice. Growing up where I did, I had two options: repeat the cycle or face the challenges head-on. It wasn’t easy, and it still isn’t. From a young age, I realized it was on me to make things happen if I wanted my life to change. Even though no kid should have to deal with so much so soon, that’s where my resilience comes from. Tough times made me tough. I live by this saying: ‘Be the person you needed when you were younger.’ It keeps me focused on growing and being there for others. Resilience, to me, isn’t just about getting through stuff; it’s turning tough times into strength. Read more>>
Myles McGuire
I get my resilience from my upbringing. When you’re faced with adversity time and time again. All you really have is your resilience and faith, in your commitment to seeing your missions through. I’m a middle child from Ann Arbor Michigan, I’ve spent most of my life making sure everyone around me was comfortable before I was. I was a closeted young gay black male. I found most of my release through the arts and entertainment. Read more>>
Ruby Matheu
The day my little sister Rose was born and I became a big sister, was probably the best day of my life. My sisters have always been my best friends. I would do anything for them. As a big sister, I think there is an expectation that we put on ourselves to be a role model, but also to be independent and self-sufficient. We are exposed to the reality of the real world much before they are, and your initial reaction is to protect them from the horrors. Through losing my Father, and experiencing grief and loss and depression, what kept me going was them. They are what give me strength and resilience. I never wanted to let them down, and all I have ever wanted is an amazing life for them. I kept going and found strength and resilience, because they inspire me to be a better version of myself everyday. Read more>>
Leroy Sutton
When I was 11 I was sucked under a train and lost both of my legs. That was a day that will live in my mind for all time. The day my world change I was forced to persevere through every challenge life handed me. Life hasn’t been easy but I make it look easy most of the time. I continue to pursue live, love, and liberty despite my physical disposition. Read more>>
Erin Ramírez
I grew up in a house in the woods. To be more exact, a house sitting on five acres of land 52 miles Northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. In a town of 3,000 people called Brookline. Winters were harsh, summers were scorching, and 365 days of the year my family was outside of its immediate, known culture. “A fish out of water” they would tell me. My mixed-Caribbean parents who sustained immigration, change and unfamiliarity, moved to the woods of New England without any understanding of how to raise two young children successfully in an environment vastly outside of their own. Read more>>
EAMON HARRINGTON
Resilience comes from a sub-conscious belief that you are on the right path, artistically, and that you should continue on that path despite the inevitable obstacles that come with the artist’s journey. That’s easier said than done of course, especially if your work isn’t being received with the success you believe it deserves. For me, I always know when one of my paintings is good. I also know when a piece doesn’t measure up. Good or bad, I try not to let that knowledge get in my way. I try not to judge my work. I finish one piece and I move on to the next one. Read more>>
Favor Valentine
I would have to say my mom is definitely where I get my resilience from. Throughout all of her different illnesses she continues to stay strong and fight through it no matter how hard it gets. Read more>>
