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.
Seon Smith
I would say my resilience came from me refusing to allow others to define my worth.
Often times we have high hopes and a vision God gave us and people enter our path that will try to kill the seed before it shoots. Read More>>
Margo Vesely
Almost everyone I meet is surprised by the adversity I’ve overcome in my life. My drive and determination to succeed come from experiences that many in my shoes wouldn’t have been able to endure. Read More>>
Aarika Hughes
I made a choice to not let myself down and stay resilient after experiencing let downs in my life. When life’s misfortunes arise I try to bounce back as quickly as possible. Read More>>
Alejandra Rodriguez Velez
ever since I was little I had face several moments in which I had to adapt quickly. situations like my dad leaving, my house getting on fire, my grandma passing, my mom having 3 children to raise and me being the oldest one, not having enough money, just to name a few, where also opportunities in which I had to be more understanding, learning how to let go and not be too attached to material things, being a good leader and take and responsibility without letting me get too overwhelmed, but most importantly, being able to direct that capacity to adapt and change towards always improving myself, and constantly reminding me that as long as I’m a good person (my own definition of that lol) then good change and improvement always comes along. Read More>>
Valerie M. Leyva
At a young age, I was in a position where I had to take on and process the emotions and challenges from the adults in my life. I had to learn to take care of myself and and was often left alone to conceptualize why things happen the way they do. Read More>>
Amber Nicolette
I see resilience as something that’s always been a part me, like I was born with it. Each challenge has been overcome by looking within first. Read More>>
Winner Watts
My resilience comes from faith, love, and the strength my late mother instilled in me. Losing her and growing up with an incarcerated father forced me to face challenges head-on, turning pain into purpose. Her wisdom taught me that every setback holds a lesson, and I honor her legacy by pushing forward. Read More>>
Tracy Guiteau
My resilience comes from deeply rooted places in my identity and my journey. As the first daughter of Haitian parents, I carry the weight and honor of their sacrifices and dreams. Haiti’s history is one of strength and perseverance, and I see myself as an extension of that legacy. Read More>>
Cynthia Hernandez
I believe that resilience, confidence, and self-esteem are deeply interconnected. I grew up in an immigrant household, raised by a dedicated single mother who worked tirelessly. Read More>>
Taylor Davis
If found that approaching resilience as a skill, something that takes time to develop and refine has been incredibly beneficial. Resilience is ever evolving because life is full of challenges and stress. Read More>>
Anna “aj” Johnson
Resilience is the ability of a material to absorb energy, release it, and then bounce back to its original state. It’s been used as a term to describe people who have faced setbacks and still kept going. I think an important part that this description typically misses is the absorbing and releasing of those setbacks. Read More>>
Lupe Zuniga
I get my resilience from my ancestors. As a Southern Paiute/Chicana woman in America that grew up on my tribal reservation, I was taught since birth how to endure and adapt to hardship. This has allowed me to dream of success and put action behind my words so I can give back to myself the way my ancestors intended. Read More>>
Alex Tiberio
Life is tough and I cannot say my upbringing was typical. In my earliest years my immediate family was dealing with some trauma and I was left largely on my own. I had to learn how to take care of myself. By my teens I was living with my aunt and she and I did not always see eye to eye. I found solace in running and that is when I learned to set, work for and accomplish goals. Read More>>
Jude Fanfan
I get my resilience from my family and my environment. Coming from a family of Haitian immigrants, I’ve seen firsthand what it means to start from nothing and build something through sheer determination. My parents’ journey, their sacrifices, and their ability to overcome challenges have shaped my mindset. Read More>>
Adaihu Ononuju
Resilience. It is hard for me to think of myself as resilient. However, sometimes I do have to take a step back and realize that I am. After all, I’ve chosen a path in life that is anything but clear. As someone born into poverty, one would think that I would choose a more stable career path. A path that would cause me less anxiety. Read More>>
Chelle Njiva
My resilience comes from my roots and my faith. Growing up in Zimbabwe and later navigating a new life in the U.S. meant constantly adapting, learning, and rebuilding. I’ve faced moments where I had to start from scratch whether it was moving to a new country, rebuilding after setbacks, or redefining my purpose when life took unexpected turns. Read More>>
Justin Patten
I’ve was called hard headed by most of the adults in my world growing up. There’s always been something in me that says if I want it, I will have it. That hasn’t always worked out of course, and it hasn’t always lead to a good ending, but it keeps me moving forward. I don’t even think I can take credit for it because there’s been a lot of times I want to give up. Read More>>
Bobbie Jean Demunck
My resilience is deeply rooted in the setbacks and challenges I’ve encountered throughout my life. Each hurdle, from childhood to young adulthood, has shaped who I am today. I’ve come to believe that when someone is on the brink of making a significant mark or initiating a substantial change, they often face even greater challenges. Read more>>
Hillary Gillis
Well, that really overlaps with how I began cooking in the first place. I grew up the oldest of three kids in what we will just call not the best of circumstances. I don’t really recall a time where there was an option for me to have to be resilient out of pure necessity. Read More>>
Nancy Ortega
My resiliency came from growing up in a chaotic childhood, where I wanted to do everything in my power to rise above poverty. That drive pushed me to pursue a corporate career, where I’ve worked hard to achieve stability for myself and my family. Read More>>
Delgr Shovunova
I’m inspired and empowered by the story of my ancestors. I am originally from Russia, and my ethnicity is Kalmyk. My parents were born 2,000 miles away from our home republic. The story of their deportation to Siberia as “enemies of the Soviet people” in December 1943 was shared by all Kalmyks. Read More>>
Onyx Nobunaga
From Christ honestly…the plights I’ve had to go through in life pale in comparison to most, but nonetheless in my little reality/POV they were great obstacles ive had to overcome. You kind of have to be passionate about what you’re doing in order to endure lack of funds, unprofessionalism, and abandonment. Read More>>
Katie Gray
My resilience comes from the understanding that no one is going to save me. As a woman, we are often dismissed for positions, while simultaneously expected to rise above impossible situations. To be candid, I was born into an alcoholic and addicted family, and though I was the youngest, was forced to be a caregiver. Read More>>
Zee Saleemmaharaj
Being an empath and a healer has been both a gift and a guiding force in my life. Growing up in a household marked by addiction and dysfunction, I often absorbed the emotional energy around me. As an empath, I felt the pain and struggles of others deeply, even before I fully understood my own. At times, it was overwhelming—carrying the weight of emotions that weren’t mine to bear. But this sensitivity also became my strength. Read More>>
Vanessa Bedoya
Life has been my greatest teacher when it comes to resilience. Everyone has a story, and mine began as a first-generation American. Growing up in Texas in the early ’80s, I experienced firsthand how racism can shape a person’s reality. I learned early on that not everyone will accept you simply because of how you look. Read More>>
Akuyoe Graham
From my meditation and prayer practices; from my yoga practice; from the youth that I mentor.
Without meditation, I literally feel as if I Am sleepwalking… meditation literally wakes me up. The youth I mentor are some of the most compassionate people that I know- incredibly forgiving of some of the most heinous crimes committed against them. Read More>>
Josh Evans
Our business began as I found myself in pursuit of a way to streamline the workflow within my hat business. Like most of our current LSA family, I was working a full time job and pursuing a “side hustle” that I envisioned would eventually provide for my own family as the primary income stream. Once I found this adhesive and tested it in my own shop, Read More>>
Dr. Charleanea Arellano
My story begins in the shadows of neglect, abuse, and abandonment. As a child, I was left to navigate a world that felt harsh, unpredictable, and unsafe—a world where love, safety, and belonging were elusive dreams rather than guarantees. Read More>>
Lauren O’leary
I moved from Minnesota to NYC at 18 years old alone. I had a modeling agency and a part time job that I got working at a MAC beauty counter. I experienced so much that young living in a city like new york, trying to figure out the subway system, my way around, how to go on castings and talk to agents and directors, and also how to make ends meet financially in an expensive city like New York. Read More>>
Laura Mak Quist
In today’s world, resilience isn’t just a nice-to-have trait—it’s a necessity. Women face an array of challenges, from balancing family and work to overcoming personal and professional obstacles. My life has given me many opportunities to develop resilience. Read More>>
Cody Rounds
My resiliency was earned through a battle to defy the odds, and a grueling six year-long struggle with hopelessness, self-doubt, and grief. I am overcoming an ‘incurable’ yet completely disabling chronic illness thanks to my dogged determination and belief in myself. Read More>>
Hope Mirlis
When you’ve started over as many times as I have, you have to be resilient.
When I was in college, I was unhappy with just about everything. My environment, my friend circle, my advisors. So my smart and forward thinking mother asked me to pick 2 cities and look for other schools. And off we went. A few months later, I was a northerner in the South. Read More>>
Casie Kindl
I love this question. So often we look at resilience as simply getting back up and moving forward after a setback. True resilience, for me, comes with the driver behind why I get back up and forge ahead. Read More>>
Grettel Pretell
My resilience comes from all my experiences, the good, the bad, the difficult. It makes me a wiser and more patient person, and I understand that everything in life passes and leaves us with learning, and that’s where I become stronger. Read More>>
Ligia Moreira
As a fashion designer, I think my resilience comes from a deep love for the craft and the constant drive to improve. The ups and downs of the industry, the challenges of bringing a vision to life—those things push me to keep going. There’s also a sense of connection with my work, like a personal mission to create something that resonates with others. Read More>>
Lawdie Pahlavan
I’m constantly inspired by the resilience of my friends and family. This year alone I’ve seen several close friends go through losses and come out on the other side more self assured and excited to tackle whatever’s next. Read More>>
Cameron Carr
I get my resilience from a combination of my cultural heritage and personal experiences. Growing up as a 4th generation Caribbean man in America, I was deeply influenced by the values instilled in me by my great grandmother, grandmother, and mother. In their eyes, there was always an expectation to excel—whether that was through entrepreneurship, hard work, or upholding strong moral and familial values. Read More>>
Clint & Ashlee Treadway
Clint:
I get my resilience from my stepfather, who became not only my mentor but also the greatest example of strength and kindness in my life. When he married my mom, he didn’t just take on a new wife—he embraced two new kids as his own, with love and unwavering commitment. From the very beginning, he showed me what it truly means to rise to a challenge and to lead with compassion. Read More>>
