In our building blocks of success series, we tackle the various foundational blocks we believe are essential for success. Resilience is near the top of the list, because pursuing greatness almost always means you will face losses, mistakes and tough times along your journey. The ability to bounce back is so critical and we hope the stories below will inspire you to dig deep and discover more of your own resiliency.
Shantel Grasdal Ramos
I come from a working-class, immigrant family. My mother escaped communism on the island of Cuba, settling in Canada, when I was still very young. I have learned many lessons from watching her live life, such as you need to take risks if you want to see a brighter future for yourself, and that you cannot wait for doors to open or opportunities to fall into your lap. If nothing presents itself to you, you go out and make an opportunity for yourself. It may not be at the caliber you want it to be, but I have realized after implementing my mom’s life lessons that they will eventually reach the caliber you want. Read more>>
Danielle Burnham
My resilience comes from not only life experiences, but it’s part of my DNA. My mom & her father, my grandfather, are the ones who passed this onto me genetically, as they did my dark hair & fair skin. It’s part of what I’ve always seen as their strong, Irish heritage. Their mental & emotional strength is as solid as the Blarney Stone itself. I grew up witnessing them rise up & move forward in life after significant challenges & profound loss. It started when my mom was a child. Her maternal grandfather died by suicide when she was five. At eight, her eleven-month-old sister died to medical complications from a freak illness. Read more>>
Amber Payden
My faith. I think I was just born with resilience. From a very young age, I’ve worked very hard for what I wanted. I’ve always been moving and doing things. Naturally, I’ve had some dark and depressing moments. But ultimately, I think my resilience comes from being true to who I am, and I’ve always sought the advice of older people and the Lord. I trust God and I seek out counsel. I also like to hear criticism and where I’ve failed so I can improve. Of course, I can be defensive, but I’m never deaf to criticism. Read more>>
Abi Levine
“No one wants me” is what I was thinking when I was 11 years old, standing in front of the headmistress of my boarding school as she told me my mom wasn’t coming back to get me and they were placing in foster care. I went through an unpleasant (to put it mildly) 6 years and when I emancipated from foster care, things just got worse. Until I was a homeless single mom (for the 4th time) and I suddenly realized I’d been blaming my abusers for my decisions for too long, and I had to take responsibility for myself. I realized no one was coming to save me. So I would have to do it. Read more>>
Jill And Jessica Emich
Ahhhhh resilience, it is EXACTLY what the state of the world is inviting us to dig into right now. We would say resilience is in our blood. And truth is, it is in ALL of our blood, and it is just a matter of remembering that and leaning into it. Our grandmother moved here from Italy with nothing. It was in the 30’s when the government was offering money to immigrants that were relocating. For whatever reason, our grandma refused the “handouts” as she called them. She decided she will make it on her own. Well to say she did is putting it lightly. She raised 12 children with our grandfather and was a wildly successful real estate developer in the 50’s up until the day she passed about 15 years ago. Our mom is similar in that she raised triplets (yes we are!) as well as our brother with special needs all while bing an ICU nurse as well as becoming a real estate developer herself. Read more>>
Kayla Shurson
Navigating the world of small business ownership has proved to be incredibly harder than I ever imagined, but my resilience as the owner of Shurson Group stems from an inherent passion for what I do and the community we serve. Each challenge, whether it’s adapting to constant tax changes or overcoming growing pains, has been met with determination, fueled by the belief in the unique value Shurson Group brings to its clients. Tenacity and relentless drive for innovation and improvement has enabled us not only to survive, but to thrive these last five years. At the heart of this resilience is a commitment to exceeding the expectations of those who trust us with their business needs. Read more>>
Arta Jēkabsone
I don’t think I have one specific story of where my resilience comes from. I believe it’s the result of a lifetime of professional and personal experiences…
My journey has provided many valuable and inspiring lessons, and even the tough ones have reinforced my determination to never give up on what I love.
Music has always been my driving force, pushing me forward in my projects and collaborations. Resilience, to me, also involves discipline and staying true to myself, my dreams, and my goals. While sometimes it requires sacrifice, it comes with a deep sense of gratitude and humility for the opportunities I’ve had so far. Furthermore, I am grateful to my peers, community, family, and friends, whose resilience continues to inspire and support me and allows me to grow both as an artist and as a human. Read more>>
Lindsey Beddard
In order to really succeed in the restaurant industry, resilience is the name of the game. I find my resilience in a few key places. First, the fast-paced environment of the restaurant industry really builds character. Every shift brings new challenges, and I’ve learned to adapt quickly and stay focused under pressure. Support from my team and partners is also crucial; we lean on each other during tough times, which helps us bounce back stronger. Read more>>
Ginny Weant
1. the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
“the remarkable resilience of so many institutions” 2. the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. “nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience” I think one discovers resilience by facing the most unexpected circumstances and obstacles in one’s life. I will admit, growing up, I don’t think I had to face many obstacles. I had two artistically inclined and encouraging parents who provided love and support in the forms of dance, piano, and art classes, summer camps, and anything to keep us busy. My dad was a restaurant manager, and my mom performed until she had to find a new line of work after baby number three. If and when they had struggles, they kept them from impacting our blissfully busy lives. In a way, I observed resistance in the way they persevered in sharing their own love for the arts while also being forced to choose very different careers to support a family. Read more>>
Samantha Powell (pka Sjae)
My Mother. She was a survivor and so full of love. She was so resourceful – whatever needed to be done, she would figure out what was required and just get on with it, no matter the crisis, no matter the chaos. She survived breast cancer twice, she was my angel. I lost her to Alzheimers 9 months ago, and it’s like a huge light went out in the world. Read more>>
Jessica Barfield Graham
I draw my resilience from both my experiences and my mentors. My parents have been my first mentors, and I have witnessed them overcome numerous obstacles, such as bouncing back from a job loss, and overcoming illnesses like cancer, heart attacks, and diabetes. Despite these challenges, they continue to persevere. By watching them, I learned not to give up even when things become difficult. Read more>>
Rani Rai
I believe this answer can have many variables in which phase of my life did I obtain my resilience, but I would have to answer this question with motherhood. As a survivor of PTSD, I was not eager to become a mother. I feared being a mother. Being raised eventually by a single mother, and within poverty my resilience didn’t start until I gave birth to my son. The moment I realized that he didn’t choose to be in this world gave me the ability to fight every day to give him an opportunity in this life that I truly believed I had to fight for each and every day. Read more>>
Mungo Ligoya
My resilience and work ethic come from constant self-reflection and staying aware of my journey. I’ve always had a vision, and I revisit it regularly to check if I’m still aligned and see what adjustments are needed. The path has shifted over time, but as long as the core of that vision remains solid, it’s easier to pick myself up and keep moving forward—always keeping my eyes on the bigger picture. Read more>>
Jill Mcdonald
I think resilience is just simply not giving up, it doesn’t mean that a situation isn’t challenging, painful, or life-changing, resilience is despite it, you try to start again everyday. I have had a spiritual practice of buddhism & yoga since I was 18. I think my 20 years of practice helped me build an internal fire, capable of withstanding some pretty life-altering challenges. Each day is a chance to start over. Read more>>
Taylor Hampton
My resilience comes from my strong belief that everything happens for a reason. All the failures and setbacks that occur, will eventually lead me to something bigger and better. That’s not to say I don’t get upset or frustrated when things don’t work out, but I remind myself that it’s not meant to be a part of my journey and I pick myself back up. Read more>>
Fabiana Cardenas
My resilience comes from my lived experiences of being a first-generation American and living with a mental health disorder. I was born in Venezuela, I am the daughter of Jose Felix and Graciela Semidey, and the sister of Gustavo Semidey. The first two years of my life were spent with my family always nearby, with the beaches of Cayo Sombrero just a couple of hours away, with arepas available whenever I wanted, and with the warmth of my country’s climate and culture. But shortly after, my parents made the decision that it would be best to relocate our family to the United States. My parents did not make this decision lightly, but felt that enough violence and corruption in the country had taken place to threaten the future of our family’s well being. Read more>>
Cj Adams
I draw my resilience from my inner strength and confidence. Throughout my life, I have consistently challenged myself to improve and become a better version of who I was the day before. This commitment to personal growth has helped me navigate difficulties and setbacks with determination. Each challenge I face serves as an opportunity to strengthen my character, build my confidence, and deepen my resilience. By setting goals and pushing my boundaries, I have learned to embrace change and face adversity with a positive mindset. Read more>>
David Schilling
When I was 14 years old I was involved in an accident that put me in the hospital paralyzed from the neck down. The prognosis was a paraplegic for life. In my 14 year old boy’s mind that was not an option. I would fully recover and walk out of the hospital unaided before summertime. Needless to say, the doctors did not agree. Read more>>
Tavon Carter
The resilience of The Whoadees comes from our shared experiences and the deep bond we’ve built over the years. Whether it’s personal challenges or professional setbacks, we’ve learned to channel those moments into our music, growing stronger together as a collective while staying true to our passion for creating. Read more>>
Chastity R
Being a female singer in the rock industry is no easy feat. Being a female lead singer of a band who is also a woman of color in the rock industry is a whole other level because it is something that is extremely rare. It is so uncommon that it really doesn’t exist in society or even in fictional movies other than Wayne’s World lol. So my entire career has been an uphill battle of finding prople who would “see” and accept me and build a place for me to fit in. I have found that in my band Heroine Honey with my bandmates and our fans, but it is no easy road. My resilience comes from the fire within me to be someone other ethnic young girls & women of all ages wanting to get into the rock industry can look up to. In my culture, there are little to no female rock singers. Read more>>
Kyle Lampi
“Of course the fitness trainer is going to say fitness!” It’s true and it is something that not only have I seen in my personal life but in the lives of every client I have had the pleasure to work with. Many people start their fitness journey because they want to feel better. Whether that means stronger, more energy, less body fat. Everyone’s journey and “why” is different but the funny thing is, they all build their emotional resilience along the way and not even realize it. Read more>>
Wendy Varner
I get my resilience from two people in my life. The first one is my mom. She is a beautiful person inside and out. She is super strong and confident. She is a wonderful person and always has fostered and supported my creative side. She purchased all of my arts and crafts projects growing up and, along with my Granny, taught me how to sew and crochet. My mother always put on her brave face when she had to do hard things, which was often. To this day she is my inspiration. The second one is my husband. Shortly after we were married, he lost his eyesight. He was in his early 20’s. Read more>>
Cesar Santana
My resilience comes from my passion for creating something meaningful in the streetwear space. I’ve always believed that challenges are part of the process, and each setback is an opportunity to refine and improve. I draw strength from the people who support the brand and the vision behind it—to provide hardworking men with functional, stylish pants. Seeing that impact pushes me to keep going, no matter the obstacles. It’s about staying focused on the bigger picture. Read more>>
Emeline O’hara
My handle across my social media profiles is often misread as “grit likes a biscuit”. It’s actually “grit like Seabiscuit”, and it’s something that my opera instructor said about me in an eight page letter that he sent when I had to drop out of college for financial reasons. He knew that I would still be pursuing my acting career regardless, and his kind words were the affirming medicine I was needing the most at the time. “Emeline, you have grit like Seabiscuit, the racehorse,” Mr. Ruberto wrote. He would have known better than me – he was a kid when he saw the thoroughbred win against War Admiral in 1937. Read more>>
Zack Hoskins
I get my resilience from the world constantly chewing me up and spitting me out in my young adult life. From the mental health public system failing me time and time again. Before that I was an athlete, Pretty accomplished wrestler in high school and played Quarterback from a young age up until my sophomore year. Resilience is something that you have to let a kid develop on their own and my parents did a wonderful job at letting me discover my own threshold for resilience. I think when kids get “ambition” and “resilience” shoved down their throats as a kid there’s a resentment that grows about a concept that is super important and beneficial to an individual’s success. Hence, why you see a lot of “burnout” situations. Read more>>
Jordana Monteiro
I inherited my resilience from my mother. Both of her parents passed away when she was young, and she would always remind us, “Don’t wait for others to make things happen—go out and do it yourself.” She ensured my sister and I learned practical skills like cooking, cleaning, and solving problems, things kids our age typically didn’t know how to do. At the time, she taught us with the mindset that if anything happened to her, we would know how to take care of ourselves. I’ve carried that mindset into my career, focusing on finding solutions to challenges rather than dwelling on them. Read more>>
Michael Steven-paul
My resilience stems from growing up in a community where opportunities were very little to none. Growing up in New York between the boroughs of the Bronx and Harlem as a youth i have many good memories but i also have many bad memories. Bad memories that even as adult still haunt my dreams and inner thoughts. Homelessness played a major factor back then and still haunts my memories now. Rats, roaches and sometimes if not most no food. Sleeping in the dark on a cold floor or and just moving place to place took its toll but somehow i managed to keep my faith and my sanity. I utilize these past experiences as fuel and energy to keep going. Keep succeeding and striving in everything that i do. Read more>>
Jalicia Carter
My resilience comes from my humble beginnings, growing up in a situation where I often had to fend for myself and figure things out with very little guidance. I’ve always had a mantra of “keep going, rise above.” That mentality was born from the fact that I’ve faced so many adversities early in life that deeply shaped who I am today. These experiences taught me that no matter how tough things get, I’ve been through worse and made it through to the other side. Read more>>
Matti Baine
I have maintained resiliency through the positive encouragement from my family growing up. Hearing things like, “you can be whatever you want to be” and, “you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to”. This along with psychological tools I have picked up along my unusual journey.
I dropped out of College and “Ran Away With the Circus”. Hired as the Scenic & Prop Designers Assistant and eventually taking over the role. I was always part of the show as Actress, Aerial Performer and Backstage Manager. The strength and culture of the cast and crew taught me a lot about being resilient. Seeing the magic created by the long extended nobility of circus performers I had the honor of working with and what it took for those accomplishments was priceless. Read more>>
Shania Hayes
I get my resilience from my mom. Growing up she was a single mom raising two kids, and she had to do a lot by herself. No matter the odds against her, she always seems to manage to work things out. I grew up learning that no problem is too big to overcome. We should always continue to strive past adversity. Read more>>
January Ornellas
I learned my resilience from my dad, who was also a writer. He was relentless in both his writing and submitting. He taught me from an early age that rejections were not a reflection on one’s talent, and that has always stuck with me. I wrote children’s books for many years with little success. Feeling discouraged, but not wanting to give up, I changed directions with my writing about six years ago. I began crafting short humor pieces, many of which have been published in both newspapers and humor anthologies. My first book was published last December, and I dedicated it to my dad, who was 88 at the time, and still writing. He died this past summer. Read more>>
Rachel Ivancic
Resilience was modeled by my family as well as came naturally within myself and grew with life experiences. I’m sitting in my 5th grade reading group. There aren’t many of us in this reading group since it is for students who are at the lowest reading level in the class. I know other students think this group is for the “dumb” kids in the class. I feel shame wash all over me as the teacher begins asking questions about a chapter in the book we are reading. The questions are extremely simple, almost too simple as if the teacher thinks we are that stupid. I know the answers to all of the questions but I can’t seem to open my mouth; I’m too embarrassed and angry. So, I sit there quietly, waiting for this moment to be over. Read more>>
Corey Roush
My resilience is rooted in my life experiences and the strength of my inner will. In my blog, I’ve shared my journey through trauma, and I’m currently working on the third section. The way I was raised has shaped my identity and the story I tell myself. I recognized early on that I had the power to choose how I would navigate life’s challenges. Despite the difficulties I faced, I always had the ability to shape my own path and treat others the way I wish to be treated. Read more>>
Dr. Amaka Ugbome
My resilience comes from the power of nature and self-love. Omalicha naturals philosophy emphasizes using clean, natural ingredients to restore and nourish your hair and skin. This approach encourages a deeper connection to your natural self, empowering resilience through holistic care and self-acceptance. By embracing the natural beauty within, you cultivate resilience not only in your hair and skin but also in your overall well-being. Read more>>
Marquis Deloach
My resilience stems from a tapestry woven with threads of childhood experiences, therapy, and self-acceptance. Growing up, I faced challenges that often felt overwhelming, and the trauma I endured shaped my understanding of strength. Those early experiences taught me how to navigate adversity, but they also left me with scars that needed healing. Read more>>
