Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our hope with the Portraits of Resilience series – we hope the stories below will inspire you to tap into your own resilience.
Yorleny
I was thought to work hard and from a young age I have always been very independent. Putting in the work for what I want is very rewarding to me, and growing up in another country gives you a different perspective in life, not to mention that as first-generation immigrants, my parents were and still are the perfect example to follow. Imagine going through a life-changing experience of moving to another country and dealing with that stress and adversities while making sure your family is cared for and not only that but doing it all while not speaking the language and overcoming all of it; doing it all for us?… To me that is the biggest lesson of love, determination, and resilience. Makes me extremely protective and proud of them. Read More>>
Bryanna Licciardi
As someone who grew up with social anxiety, I learned to develop a very logic-driven strategy to keep me from caving into emotional duress and the urge to run away. Whenever I want to give up, I lay out my options as objectively as possible: I can quit now or I can give it one more day and quit tomorrow. Every time, I manage to convince myself one more day is feasible. The next thing I know, all of those days have added up to a degree, a manuscript, a career, a relationship. One of my favorite sayings is to do something that scares you. I use this in my writing, too: write the thing you’re scared to write. It’s in that fear that one truly discovers the self. Read More>>
TR3VON
My resilience comes from being overlooked for so long and becoming the underdog. Being around people that have under estimated my ability and skills. I’ve used the energy of people not believing in me and not understanding the vision and turned it into gold. It’s your problem if you don’t see my value and what I’m worth not mine. I’ve come to the understanding that those same people who refused to show acknowledgement and provide resources I didn’t need them in the first place. Read More>>
Joshua Varon
My grandfather had a lot to do with how I view things. I have been through quite a lot, but one thing I knew when I started the journey of entrepreneurship was that it wasn’t going to be easy so whenever times get tough, I always think to myself “Now, what?” Read More>>
Suzanne Papiewski
I have supported myself since age 18. I put myself through college and law school (I went to law school at night and worked full time). I graduated from law school with honors and landed a fantastic job, and have had a very successful career in a male-dominated field (international tax law). I went through some very difficult times as an adult, including a divorce and a serious illness. I was a single mother for many years and my son now has a college degree and a graduate degree. Overcoming these challenges has made me very resilient. Read More>>
James Richard
Im James, I started my supplement company Bizi in 2020. There was a lot of pressure, but at the same time it was like if I made a mistake who cared the world had so much other stuff to be worried by. Keeping the company going through the years is not an easy task. Especially when you bootstrap it. You have to have some sort of resiliency and understand your goals take time. Read More>>
Yelitza Cruz-Cubano
I truly believe my resilience comes from the life experiences I have had. From accompanying my grandfather to do errands due to his illiteracy at 8-9 years old, to translating and being in charge of all admin like things whenever my dad would deploy I had to develop a resilient concept of the self. Read More>>
Melvin Edmonds Jr
I got my resilience from my late father, Melvin Edmonds Sr. To the world, he was Melvin from After 7 and Milestone. To me and my siblings, he was a father. A father first before anything. He showed me resilience, integrity, compassion, hard work and dedication. I’m forever grateful for the years and memories that will last a lifetime in my heart. Read More>>
Shonda Buchanan
My family and ancestors. My daughter. and grandsons. They give me the hope I need to continue writing the hard stuff, yet they also give me the resilience to recover from confronting the hard issues of trauma, race, family dysfunction, and inequality. Ultimately, I write about the people closest to me or important historical occurrences or figures that have been hidden like the narratives of Black Indians, or the erasure of Indigenous people’s traditions. Read More>>
Amy Gabbitas
My life has never been easy, but his has always been full of blessings. I think my resiliency comes from knowing that things will work out in the grand scheme of things. My faith gives me confidence that God has a plan for me and as I pay attention to spiritual promptings, I will always find good things to keep working towards and help to get me through hard things. Read More>>
Amanda Novena
Having a strong family relationship has been a really important part of my life. I know that they will always be there for me, no matter what. I know that I can always count on them, and that gives me a lot of strength. My children also play a big part as I know that they are watching and learning from me, so I like to set a good example of showing them that even if they are struggling with something they should always keep at it if they want to achieve their goals. Read More>>
Aaron Allen
I get my resilience from my faith in God and the things i learned from my faith in jesus and his story as well on how no matter what, in the face of your enemies love them and continue your duty. I also get my strength from my friends and family who support me and keep me writing books. Read More>>
Kecia Myers
My resilience comes from becoming a mother At the age of 16. My life would change forever. My life was no longer just about me anymore. It was now my son and me. Faced with the financial, mental, and physical responsibility of raising him forced me to grow up extremely fast. I learned how to prioritize my life because I still had the responsibility of finishing High School and work to take care of my son. As he grew into a toddler I started noticing a lack of mental actions as he aged. Turns out, he was diagnosed as a special needs child. (TMH) Trainable Mentally Handicapped. I became very discouraged. This was not the life I envisioned for myself. Read More>>
Natalie Jones
Resilience for me is a character trait which has been developed from strong adversity— including opposition from close sources which requires one to walk a path of solace to achieve dreams and purpose against all odds. It will be a lonely road to get there and that’s ok. This is how we grow, learn, and achieve Greatness. I suffered in silence for years to make sure no one could take away my vision. I stayed quiet when I did so much for others and they would turn around and steal, lie, manipulate and walk away from me then try to make it look like I did something wrong to create the situation. Read More>>
Claudia Chan
In her 24 year entrepreneurial career, her programs have impacted over 1 million by igniting entrepreneurial and corporate changemakers to solve social issues in their communities. She is the NYT celebrated author of This Is How We Rise, founder of the award-winning S.H.E. Summit conference, Champion of Innovation at UN Women, a speaker with the US State Department and advisor to her S.H.E. GLOBL NETWORK of 600 thought leaders and client history of 400+ Fortune companies from ESPN, Morgan Stanley, Bacardi, PepsiCo to Audi. Read More>>
Renetta Burley
I get my Resilience from being a teen mom at 15 a young age I had to operate in survival mode to care for my child, never getting to know myself. I never got to be a Kid that live in a healthy environment. We move a lot, my mom drink alcohol a lot, drugs so I always felt like I had to take care myself & my baby sister. As teen Raising Kids I lost myself during the Journey, But I gain strength in caring for them. My Resilience come from Raising my Two Amazing Kids, My sacrifice was Worth it. I’m healing from all child trauma & walking in my Purpose by serving Gods peoples In entertaining In Art. Read More>>
Emma Poin Du Jour
When I look back on my journey as an immigrant, I realize that every obstacle I faced mentally prepared me to overcome today’s significant challenges. For example, I spoke English with a heavy French/Caribbean accent that I was very self-conscious of, but I also knew my gift was in my mouth doing public speaking, so self-conscious or not, I opened my mouth and spoke. And little by little, I started gaining confidence. Read More>>
Aaliyah Niara
I derive my resilience from multiple sources, each playing a vital role in shaping my unyielding determination and grit. Foremost, as a mother, my children inspire me daily with their unwavering spirit and the responsibility I feel as a mother to provide them with a strong example of perseverance. Read More>>
Kindall Tucker
Certain characteristics have absolutely contributed to my resilience, such as optimism, perseverance, adaptability, self-confidence, and a sense of purpose. I think learning all of these things are vital in order to stay strong. Having a strong support system, my family, friends, and mentors; They have all provided me with encouragement, emotional support at times, and guidance when I need it the most. Read More>>
C.L. Wages
Resilience is something that resonates very highly with me. To be transparent, I have failed quite a lot, mainly under the guise that I “just wasn’t ready.” In high school, I auditioned for plays and solos frequently, and never once was I selected. From many perspectives, favoritism ran rampant in my high school choir, something that many of my peers attributed to not getting selected. Despite this, I always found that making music was more important, and though I never had the spotlight, it never stopped me from continuing to pursue the thing that made me happy. Read More>>
Timothy Tonachella
I believe I’ve acquired resilience from a number of arenas. Growing up in a tough neighborhood in Detroit was the start of it. It was necessary to communicate on many levels with many different people. After reaching adulthood working in the factories in Detroit and trying my hand at construction work, as well as a number of other jobs, I found myself living in Northern California in a little town called Petaluma. This was a much different environment than I was accustomed to, and many changes occurred there. Read More>>
Adina Crawford
Having resilience is not inherently automatic. There is a combination of your own story, the environment, the situation at hand, and genetics play a part. I get my resilience from being a go-getter and Determination. Read More>>
Airan Arellano
I draw my resilience from a childhood marked by challenges that ignited my determination. Originally from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, my life took a significant turn at the age of 8 when I moved to the United States. This transition shaped the person I’ve become today, as I navigated hurdles and setbacks resulting from being an immigrant. Read More>>
Madi Baldwin
Building resilience isn’t something that happens overnight; it’s like planting seeds that grow over time as we face challenges and learn from them. Although it can sometimes feel tiring to persistently move ahead, the journey becomes more enjoyable if we pause to acknowledge our successes along the way. Instead of a constant “push” forward, it transforms into a leisurely stroll of progress. Read More>>
Safarri Jessop
I started training in martial arts when I was 13, and halfway into that I started modeling and eventually I became a professional photographer. A lot of people thought it was unique that a deaf person could accomplish so much especially in becoming a world champion in Haidong Gumdo (Korean swordfighting) and then became a model and eventually a photographer. It was a long journey to become resilient and having the courage and confidence to reach this mission. Read More>>
Sean Reagan
Being a creative I feel as if one’s resilience comes through the efforts of our project’s. Working with client’s we are able to mold and adapt as time goes on, and if you take notes then you’re able to overcome any given situation. I feel as if my resilience comes from my overwhelming desire to meet some pretty well known people, and go to many exotic places. It keeps me hungry for more. You always have to be hungry as a creative, always. You are the director of your own narrative in this life, it’s up to you to pave your own path. No one can do it for you, they can only help you get there in small steps. Shake hands, make connections, put in the work and great things are sure to come! Read More>>
Bella J. Rockman
That’s a loaded question for me. In many ways, I feel like I was born in resilient. I was born into some complex inter-generational trauma that came with adversity, so early on, I think I adopted a sink or swim mindset. I can sit in it and sink, or learn from it, overcome it and swim! Read More>>
Phern Cain
Definitely my daughter. I want her to see my processes – to understand that failure and mistakes are part of the journey. It makes you stronger every time you get up. I want her to see that her dreams are possible, and I would be a bad example if I stayed defeated. Read More>>
Laura Friedman
“Resilient” is the perfect word to describe my mother. I didn’t know I also possessed this quality until I went through a divorce 4 years ago after a 25 year marriage. My mother, who passed 11 years ago unexpectedly, was a risk taker in her professional career as a builder/real estate broker. She went through several financial set backs over her 71 years of life, and somehow managed to weather the storm. She never gave up when things got tough, maybe because she had 3 daughters to raise, or she was driven by ambition. Needless to say, we observed her strength, determination and resourcefulness growing up, and I guess it rubbed off on me. Read More>>
Pancho Rucker
I’m a serial entrepreneur and creative so that allows me to create real things from just a thought and put them out in the world to see how people accepts them. I find that the most exciting thing about what I do. I see it as creating literal magic. Read More>>
Tiffany Scott
I am the creator and owner of Skyes of Reign Collection. A full line of bold, vibrant cosmetic that allows a story to be told through the artistry of make up.
The most exciting part of having a cosmetic brand is the endless creativity! You can display your feelings or current vibe just with your lipstick shade. A woman with a good lippie doesn’t have to say a work to steal the attention of the room. Read More>>
Tiffany Coleman
Tiffany “Miz Tiffany” Coleman-McGee is an internationally known recording artist, having toured several venues in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and having received the 2023 Celebrity Artist of the Year Award at the MultiFace France International Celebrity Awards in Paris, France and the 2023 Impact Honoree Music Award for the 9th Annual Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music Awards. Read More>>
Saucey Scientists
being born and raised in India, resilience is something that is inculcated in us. as a country, it is this trait that got us our freedom from the British in 1947. as individuals, it is the resilient nature of ours that helps us strive and grow amidst 1.3 billion people as competition. Read More>>
Isaiah Boozer
My resilience comes from a long ancestral lineage of strong black women who invested into the future generations. My resilience comes from the depth of African heritage and culture, it comes from not necessarily wanting to be resilient but needing to be in the face of tremendous adversity. Read More>>
Midy Aponte-Vargas
I owe a lot of my strength and determination to my mom. She was a strong Cuban woman who encouraged me to live my life with honesty, humility, and wisdom. She taught me to never steer too far from my roots and to be proud of who I was and where our family came from. My parents were honest, hard-working people, and my mom counseled me to never let anyone make me feel less worthy or valuable in my career or personal life because I didn’t come from a certain pedigree. Instead, she showed me how to use my upbringing as an asset to build upon. Read More>>
Sebastian Sears
I always keep my eye on my end goal and visualize how rewarding and amazing the final outcome will be. There are times where I have those unmotivated days/evenings/weekends and question if my creative projects are worth continuing? In the past, I would loose focus and motivation mostly to lack of resources or prioritizing sustainability and I just want to be clear that I have never had a creative project completely set me back since I look at them as a gig vs how I make my income. Read More>>
Veena Aragam
This is a question I’m often asked in many different ways – “How are you so brave?” Or, “How do you walk away from naysayers with such confidence?” Or even “Wow…you’re really bold!” (Not a question, but often said to me in NOT the most positive connotation). Read More>>
Eva Kolb
I have gained resilience from many of my life experiences, probably from too young of an age. My parents are German immigrants, and growing up in a small town in Vermont, I always felt like an outsider. I learned to find strength in my independence, and resilience in that strength. While I am thankful for these traits, and aware that they got me through a lot, I think it is important to note that they were born of necessity. I hope we all experience the opportunity to be soft instead of resilient, to find and form safety that allows us to let go of resilience. Read More>>
Nicole Laird, PT, DPT
Resilience is something that I believe is forged over time. As a little girl, I was a competitive gymnast and had to learn the lesson of perseverance many times over. Practice, practice, practice and continuing to improve little by little is the only way to continue to move forward in a competitive sport. Fast forward to 2020, I started my women’s health physical therapy and fitness practice full time in January of 2020. We all know what happened shortly after that. I could have thrown my hands up and said, “Nope, this is too much. I’m going to go back to working for someone else.” But I made the choice to dig in and continue moving forward. Read More>>
AMI- LA
I would say my resilience comes from God and from the strength of my family. I believe that trusting in God during difficult times is a key aspect of resilience, it helps me stay grounded and focused on what’s truly important. Additionally, having a strong network of family and friends who believe in me and support me no matter what has been incredibly helpful in building my resilience. This music is much bigger than me; it’s not about me; it never was. It’s always been about God and saving those who are lost through the lyrics given to me by the Holy Spirit. Read More>>
