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.
Cristy Cali
It’s a bitter-sweet story involving being a second-generation Latino, only child to hard-working entrepreneurs, the social media boom, and a classic clash of the generations. My family immigrated to the US in the 80’s from Guatemala and built a business exporting goods from Central America to New Orleans, selling them in the historic French Market for over a decade until they were able to open two brick-and-mortar jewelry shops in the French Quarter. Read more>>
Jackie Saucer
This is a question that had been yearning to be answered for some time now, without knowing it was ever needed to be expressed. Though I get my resilience from my Father, and my Father’s passing. From the moment my father passed this past February, it seemed that my worldview took a 180 shift. I knew I had to take on a role with myself that meant from that moment forward, I will have to carry myself on & make myself place one foot in front of the other in all ambitious pursuits, as well as personal life journey. Read more>>
Junran Yang
Traveling, I got my resilience from traveling. Setting foot in different cities and countries since I was a kid, I have been truly fascinated by the shockwaves of waking up in fresh cultural environments and strolling through novel geographical landscapes. Despite many language barriers and unfamiliarity, I found many commonalities across diverse systems, societies, and people. Those experiences empower me to be versatile and adaptable as an individual, and they offer me positive energy whenever I am starting a new challenge. Read more>>
Oskar Landi
Making a living in the arts as a freelancer is not easy, more so in a demanding competitive city like New York. Over the years many of the warnings I received turned out to be true, the metaphor of the rollercoaster or the cliché ‘feast or fast’ are constants that are hard to navigate. At the same time I have to remind myself that I had a life full of incredible experiences and personal growth, a privilege I could never have imagined when I started out and must be grateful for. Keeping my journey in mind is probably my main source of resilience, the realization that everything in the process has value, not just the financial/material success too often so revered. Read more>>
Leslie Lendvoy
I never gave up on art and it never let me down. It has always been a place of comfort and sustenance… an escape from the stress or busyness of the human world around me. As a child growing up in a troubled family, I always found peace and contentment making art. As an adult, it continues to bring me solace and a sense of purpose. It takes me to a place where I explore what’s important to me. Read more>>
Hailey Fernelius
My resilience comes from knowing that I want to live a life worth remembering. My biggest fear in life is to live like it’s groundhog’s day. From a very young age we are told that we have to go to school, do well, graduate, get a job and get married. You will probably work that job for the rest of your life, just moving up the latter. You’ll buy your forever home and your forever car and you’ll spend the next 3/4 of your life being comfortable because you set yourself up for success when you were young.Read more>>
Brendon Hernandez
My resilience’s comes from my family . My grandparents on both sides are Cuban immigrants and came to this country with nothing but a dream of a better life . My grandfather Maximus Hernandez cut sugar cane in Cuba to be able to move his wife and four children to the US. While he stayed behind until they allowed him to leave communist Cuba . Watching my parents making it happen with 3 kids and providing a life for us is what gives me the faith that anything is possible if you’re willing to work for it. Read more>>
Katherine Krakowski-Macy
I make an effort to reset my mindset and practice gratitude regularly. This might involve reading a daily verse from my email, stepping outside to take a deep breath, or reflecting on what I’m thankful for right now. I focus on staying positive about what I can control and keep pushing through challenges while learning from past experiences. Life can be tough, and sometimes it’s harder to stay resilient, so I try to build that resilience. Since becoming a mother, giving myself grace has become very important to me. Read more>>
GraceKelly Fontanez
My resilience comes from a profound sense of love and support from my family. Their unwavering faith in my abilities, their trust in my judgment, and their constant encouragement are the source of my strength and motivation. No matter what life throws my way, I know I have their love and support to keep pushing forward. Their trust in me gives me the confidence to confront any challenge and succeed for both myself and them. Read more>>
Stephanie Shaver
I’d say my resilience was pretty well developed during 2020 as the pandemic hit. I had been working with local chambers of commerce and community development agencies as my day job/career and had upfront access to the struggles of local businesses and nonprofits. I had zero plan to start my own end-to-end, full-service marketing agency, but when I saw how uncertain times were, I wanted to be on the front line helping businesses stay in business. That’s how Project 4 was born. Read more>>
Danny De Lillo
I feel my resilience comes from watching my Mum growing up. Watching her work three jobs, being a single Mum and coming through every battle, hurdle. heartache, health issue and trauma and still standing strong. She is a statue of resilience and why I can never give up. She has always wanted me to pursue my dreams even though they may seem too high and supported me through the good, the bad and the ugly. We talk on the phone almost everyday and her resilience is what has kept me strong. Read more>>
Sean Love
Growing up in the inner city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I went to private schools my entire life. My heart was constantly tested to be a good person. Being a Letherwood until social security let me know my last name is Love came with its challenges! Read more>>
Nikel Chism
I got my resilience from God, my parents, being the oldest sibling, and partial stubbornness . There have been many times that I have said I was quitting my business due to hitting a rough patch in my life, but when it came down to it my spirit and God told me I wasn’t finished. I remember when I was filling out the application to dissolve my business I had told everyone I wasn’t going to be in operation anymore. Read more>>
Odeta Xheka
Committed to focus on art and artists whose visual tools engage the mind, the eye, and the soul alike in order to bring people together, help them remember what, deep down, they know is true, put language to something for which there is no language available and ultimately celebrate what makes us all human, helming OXH Gallery comes with a particular set of challenges. Read more>>
Joe Colavito
I get my resilience from my faith and close relationships. Since faith is believing in advance that which will only appear logical when viewed in reverse, I can see life’s ups and downs through a more stable, objective, healthy, and productive lens. My faith allows me to look beyond the scene – what we can physically see and experience – so I can step back and search for the truth, life lessons, and growth opportunities available in every situation, conversation, and setback. Read more>>
Robbie C. Ward
I think a big part of it is born from dealing with a severe chronic illness. I’ve been hospitalized 7 times since working on my short film and there have been months where I was unable to do much of anything other than sleep. During those times, it felt like I’d never be productive again. But my love of art and beauty has always pulled me through. Read more>>
Jen Peeples-Hampton
Wow, I actually love this question. I’d say my resilience comes from learning how to have courage. I come from a large family, sitting 3rd to youngest out of 9. I wasn’t the oldest but I also wasn’t the baby either. In order to be heard, you either did something amazing or you did something that caused you to lose certain privileges. There were times where I chose the amazing route and the not so amazing route. Read more>>
Matthew Lo Re’
In my days of being a bright bouncy new comer to planet earth, Santa Clause inspired I . Constructing simple robots by recycling cardboard . Creating a new vibration language with bright colorful division . Placing pieces to bring forth my version of a video game console. Magic is all around if acknowledged. Read more>>
Lindsey Escaja
Resilience. It’s a word that often gets thrown around, but for me, it’s not just a trait; it’s a legacy. My resilience stems from a life lived with no regrets, a gift handed down to me by the most incredible woman I have ever known—my mother. Growing up, I was fortunate to have a childhood with minimal problems. That idyllic world shifted dramatically when I was eight. Read more>>
Andrea Guth Vega
Loved this question because it gets me to talk about the people I admire the most! Growing up I was blessed to be raised by the most resilient and brave people in this world. My parents have always given me and my brothers the most genuine example of resilience and determination with every single thing they do. At times they were juggling multiple jobs and even self owned businesses to be able to give us nothing but the best. They’ve always been transparent with us, making us understand that great effort and sacrifices come with great achievements. Read more>>
Kori Wiggins
Well, it started out with my parents. Growing up, I always saw my parents working hard to make a way for us. Now, I’d have to say it stems from multiple things; the desire to inspire those around me from my modeling, and wanting to provide the best education for the students I work with. Outside of modeling, I work as a special education teacher, providing educational services for students that learn best using different methods than general ed students. Read more>>
Sophie Zollmann
I get my resilience from surrounging myself with coaches, teachers, mentors, friends, colleagues and family who are there for me through all things. They believe in me when I doubt myself, make a mistake or flat out fall on my face. And some of those people really showed their belief in me during the worst time of my life in my business in 2019. I never knew just how much they cared, believed in me and were will to step up and get me through that really rough part of my business life. Read more>>
Jarah Alhawamdeh
”I get my resilience from my involvement in climbing and sports, which challenge me both physically and mentally. Additionally, setting monthly and yearly goals helps me stay focused and motivated, allowing me to continually grow and overcome .” Read more>>
MaKall Fabrizio Garcia
I got my resilience from having no other choice but to BE resilient! I have had many times in my life where it was time to sink or swim as I like to say. Makeup has always been a big reason as to why I can stay resilient and pull myself out of dark times. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Born and raised in small town Utah, as a child, I had a childhood one can only dream of. Read more>>
Matthew Nye
when my father passed it was my biggest fear and I lived through it, nothing could ever hurt me like that again, there is nothing left but to make my art till I pass. Read more>>
Hugo Ksenhuk
Discipline and consistency in daily studies helped me a lot to have resilience in the musical environment, this came over the years, it is not something that can be acquired overnight. I understand that in music talent and discipline go together. At the beginning of your musical career, it is common and normal to feel frustrated, but over time, resilience is acquired. It’s not always about you, it’s about the task. Read more>>
Dr. Courtney Yurko
My resilience comes from life experiences. I’ve been through a lot over the years, and it’s taught me to never give up and to have endless inner strength. Losing my mother to cancer and opening a business right before COVID were especially challenging experiences that taught me a great deal about perseverance and resilience. Read more>>
Vancho Djordjevski
My resilience comes from my child hood. At a very young age I always stated to my self “if someone else can do something so can I”. I have never been known to quit at anything. Even if something goes wrong, you can always learn from it. Learn, adapt and move on. Its human nature to bounce back. Everything negative can be turned to a positive. Its how you adapt that makes you stand out from the rest. Bouncing back from difficult expericiences makes you the person you are physically and psychologically. Read more>>
Emily Reza
I get my resilience from the example my parents set for me and the community I grew up in. My family, especially my parents, instilled in me the importance of pushing through adversity, and always finding a way forward. From seeing my Dad continue to pursue his passions and provide for the family despite losing his eyesight and health, to my mom juggling a full-time job and her role as a caretaker, I was never short on motivation to make things happen against all odds. Read more>>
Kathleen Nelson
Resilience evokes the image of a new rubber band that always snaps back to its original form, regardless of how much it is stretched. Growing up in a household with a single mother who faced numerous challenges, particularly financial ones, I came to accept chaos and poverty as part of everyday life. To navigate those challenging years, I sought solace in nature, books, and my faith until I found my passion for art. Read more>>
Paul Fearon
I get my resilience from my culture and place of birth and from the work ethic I saw my Dad & Mom demonstrated when they were both alive. I am a Jamaican and Jamaicans are born resilient people. We know how to survive on the bare minimum and so resilience is an innate character trait of mine. Read more>>
Parham Neal-Pishko
Resilience came from family, both the kind you are given and the community you choose. The first crack was when my oldest brother had an accident, falling twenty-two feet leaving him paralyzed and leaving me as his care person in the hospital rotation for 36 days. The yoga I’d been practicing for a decade became something much more overnight. On top of its usual physical relief, I used it to keep myself together mentally and emotionally in cold, hard, loud, fluorescent spaces. Read more>>
Alice Liang
My resilience comes from a combination of my upbringing, my experiences, and my belief in what I do. Whenever I faced challenges as a child, my mom would always smile and say, “Don’t give up. Persist to the end, and you’ll see success.” My dad and grandma are also great role models with their strong minds and determination. My family instilled in me the importance of perseverance and maintaining a positive mindset. Read more>>
Christen Threats
I got that from my mother. She always raised me to never be a quitter she said to always do what makes me happy and to make sure that I’m the best at it. Read more>>
sara welch
sara: February 27, 2024, marked eleven years of sobriety for me, a decade filled with profound realizations about the value of second chances. Sobriety has allowed me to reconnect with parts of myself I had abandoned during what I now call my “dark ages.” Back then, drinking was my crutch. It started as a way to soothe my social anxiety but quickly spiraled into an all-encompassing escape from reality. I went from being an active, outdoor-loving person to a smoking recluse, too entangled in self-pity and depression to participate in life. When my dad invited me for hikes, I always found excuses to avoid them. Deep down, I wanted to be active and explore, but the grip of alcohol and my own despair held me back. Read more>>
