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.

Ralitsa Kombakis

My resilience comes from my roots. I’m the daughter of Greek immigrant parents who came to this country with nothing but grit, heart, and a dream. They opened a small pizza shop and, through tireless work and quiet humility, put three kids through college. Growing up in that environment, I learned early on that success doesn’t come easy—but it does come with dedication, sacrifice, and showing up every single day. Read More>>

Kourtney Galloway

Resilience came from God first. And then from the women who lived what they couldn’t always say.

Women like my grandmother, who prayed through her hands; cooking, folding, wiping tears, showing up even when no one asked her to. Or my mama, who could speak truth with softness and still be heard. Watching them taught me that strength doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it looks like quiet consistency. Sometimes it looks like choosing not to quit. Read More>>

Delaney Rietveld

Throughout my 4 years of full-time entrepreneurship, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about never having negative emotions; it’s about how quickly you can bounce back from any negative emotion, trigger, or disappointment you face.

I won’t lie, it has taken me a long time to learn this kind of resilience, but I feel like I’ve finally arrived at a place where my skills in resilience match the skills that people pay me for. Read More>>

Douglas Hess

It started with a meeting — one that my mother never forgot.

I was still a kid, and she’d gone to a parent-teacher conference like any parent would, hopeful for some encouragement, maybe a few ideas to help me do better in school. Instead, she got something very different. Read More>>

Linda Metzler

If I reach way back, I would say the seed of my resilience started from the marriage of stubborness and necessity.

You see, I got pregnant at 17. In that situation, no choice is an easy choice. I chose to welcome a baby into my life and to marry the baby’s father when I was 18. It’s good to make big decisions at 18 while you still know everything! Read More>>

Sophie Graefenhain

I developed my resilience through necessity, beginning at the age of 15 when I was faced with serious medical challenges that deeply impacted my confidence, self-esteem, and mental health. These experiences disrupted the plans and goals I had envisioned for myself, forcing me to reevaluate not only my direction but my sense of identity. Over time, I learned that survival meant taking things one step at a time—no matter how uncertain or overwhelming the path ahead seemed. Read More>>

Kierra Sari

First and foremost, I owe my resilience to my mother. More than anyone else, she showed me what true strength looks like. There were countless times in her life when she had every reason to fold, to give up—but she never did. Whether it was fighting to protect her home, navigating difficult life circumstances, or managing relationships, she never backed down.  Read More>>

Haley Ellis

I get my resilience from many important people in my life. My mom and dad did just about everything they could when I was younger to try and give us a better life than they had. My dad in particular taught me about how hard life can be, and to try to make the best out of every situation. He taught me that there’s always something to be grateful for, even when it feels like absolutely nothing is going right.  Read More>>

Ronii Bartles

Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of resilience. You have to get comfortable with “failure” and reframing it into “what did I learn?” There are a lot of great quotes about failure, but college and MBA programs don’t teach you how to handle failing over and over. But you’re not special and can’t bypass it. It’s a rite of passage that all business owners have to go through.  Read More>>

Kelly Giordano

I get my resilience from a decision I made in the middle of one of the hardest chapters of my life — during chemotherapy, after being diagnosed with cancer. I remember sitting there, and thinking: this is not how my story ends.

So in the middle of treatment, I signed the lease to what would become The Haverhill Studio. I was determined to create something greater than myself — a space that would foster creativity, connection, and community. I didn’t want cancer to define me. I wanted to build something that brought people together and reminded them — and me — of what it means to feel alive. Read More>>

Denetro Tealer

I believe my resilience was shaped early on by my upbringing and the challenges I faced growing up. My parents played a major role in instilling strength in me. I watched them push through difficult times with unwavering faith and determination, and that left a lasting imprint on how I navigate life.

I experienced a lot of adversity at a young age, and those experiences taught me that no matter how tough things get, you can overcome anything when you stay grounded in faith, have a sense of direction, and live with purpose.  Read More>>

Erica Jones

Owning a successful photo booth business like Studio EKJ with my husband showcases the power of teamwork and shared vision. Our collaboration and reliance on each other’s skills have transformed a creative idea into a thriving enterprise. This journey strengthens not only our business but also our personal bond, as we work together towards common goals.  Read More>>

Daniel Jones

I found the best motivation is the persistence to resistance when you face resistance of failure and knockdown setback and struggle. This burns a fire deep within me to create a path of pure ignited motivation to assist persist persist against the resistance. Read More>>

Michael Cramer

I got my resilience from losing my father to cancer at 14 years old and then getting diagnosed with Cancer myself at 19 years old. I had to face a similar disease that killed my father. I was only 19. I had no choice but to fight for my life and push forward. I could not let my Mom, my brother, my sister and my family lose someone else to this disease.  Read More>>

Mara Wagner

I can see, now that I am older, that both my parents were very resilient. My mother was a small-town Iowa girl whose community sent her to college when her parents planned only to send her brothers. She made the most of her opportunities throughout life, despite a lot of self doubt and a number of hardships along the way; she always got up again when she fell.  Read More>>

Maggie Richard Maureen Garrett

Maggie: Where does your resilience come from?

My resilience is deeply rooted in my immigrant story. I moved to the U.S. from Poland with my parents and younger brother when I was 11. We didn’t speak any English and were suddenly thrown into a new world; new school, new culture, new everything. One minute I was top of my class in Poland, and the next I couldn’t understand what was being said around me. Read More>>

Jacqueline Ruiz

I get my resiliency from all the adversity and challenges that I have experienced in my life. From having my home on fire at the age of 12 to coming to the USA at the age of 14 without speaking a word of English to surviving cancer twice by the age 23 and many other obstacles. I just never give up. Read More>>

Dedo

There were moments when the world felt like it was trying to break every piece of me — and at times, it almost did.

I’ve known trauma like an unwelcome houseguest that overstayed its visit. I’ve felt the sting of abandonment, the ache of neglect, and the cut of betrayal deeper than any blade. I’ve lost jobs that I thought would be my break. I’ve gone broke, watched the zeros fade, felt the shame that comes with empty pockets and a heavy heart.  Read More>>

Beth DeAngelis

I developed resilience out of necessity during times of struggle.
The greatest, most painful challenge I overcame was the sudden loss of my husband to suicide 13 years ago. I was 39 years old with two children. Reading books on survivorship helped me understand healing, and the love I received fueled my desire to keep going. Personal stories, love, my desire to heal, and a supportive community provided the foundation of my resilience. Read More>>

Mario Rivera

Having been born and raised in Peru, I truly believe my resiliency is a direct product of the environment around me growing up, such as my parents, family and friends. Read More>>

Dynalee Santos

I get my resilience from the people in my life and my own experiences. I’ve learned that challenges don’t define me—they shape me. Every setback I’ve faced has taught me how to stand taller, stay grounded, and keep going with even more purpose. I remind myself that growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones, and that keeps me pushing forward. Read More>>

Mardi Winder-Adams

I never realized I was resilient until others starting commenting. I was adopted into an amazing family, however my mother had serious health issues. Despite dealing with chronic health problems and pain, my Mom always found ways to celebrate life and support others. I watched her do this as a child and teen, never realizing how she was teaching me to believe in myself as she believed in herself, despite all the challenges she faced. Read More>>

Erby Beauvil

My resilience comes from faith—deep faith that God is making provisions for my life even when I can’t see the full picture. When I quiet the noise around me, I begin to discern the next step, and the right people seem to show up at the right time.

I also carry the weight—and honor—of my family’s legacy. As an only child between my mom and dad, and the eldest of my father’s children, I’ve long felt called to break generational cycles that no longer serve us and to open new doors.  Read More>>

Mandy Mazzawi

It’s not something that happened over night. It was from getting up each day for weeks, months and years, and making a choice to tackle that day.

You see, my oldest son was diagnosed at 18 months old with Cerebral Palsy, a gross motor disability affecting the legs and feet, but one that also can affect fine motor skills in your arms and hands. It was a devastating moment and I grieved for many years the childhood he would have and what my life as his mother would look like. Read More>>

Samantha Ava

My resilience comes from experiencing a lot of personal hardship throughout my life. Sure, I can get low and even struggle with depression at times, but I’ve always had a fire in my belly to keep on pushing through, no matter what. I learned to let outside negativity be a foundation for a deep well of positivity. Read More>>

Makayla Smith

I’ve been a photographer in the DFW area for over seven years, and what’s kept me grounded and resilient throughout this journey is knowing that I’m always a student, there’s always something new to learn. I’ve learned to clap for myself in the wins and reflect on the challenges without labeling them as losses. Every experience, whether smooth or messy, has helped shape me into a stronger creative and businesswoman.  Read More>>

Nicole Morten Lamb

Resilience doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from hardship.

From falling flat on your face—publicly, painfully—and still getting back up. Not once. Not twice. But again and again. You don’t build grit by doing everything right. You build it by refusing to stay down when every part of you wants to quit.

I spent nearly two decades climbing through the news industry—reporting stories, making documentaries, working my way into rooms where I often didn’t feel welcome. Read More>>

K. J. Harrowick

I exist, that idea has always been constant. But from the time I was a child, everything about me, my looks, my ideas, and decisions were nit-picked and judged and fell into one of two piles: it was wrong according to archaic ideas and an invisible world view, or I was a rebel. Over the years that constant chipping away at my sense of self nearly cost me to lose the core of who I am. I was hanging on for dear life until I began safeguarding that core, accepting myself as-is, and exploring ideas I was once shamed for.  Read More>>

Cynthia Gary

What makes me resilient?

I was raised by my father — a strong Black man who grew up in a time where resilience wasn’t optional, it was essential for survival. From a young age, he instilled in me the importance of strength, perseverance, and grit. He would always say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” and I’ve carried that with me through every challenge life has thrown my way. Read More>>

Tony Barnes

My resilience was forged in two places: the battlefield and the breakdown. As a U.S. Army veteran, I learned discipline, mental toughness, and how to keep moving forward under pressure. But it was life after the uniform—when I faced personal loss, identity shifts, and silent struggles—that really tested me. I had to confront my own “mind bullies,” Read More>>

Robert Feeney

Resilience Through Hardship: From Grief to Mission

I lost both my brothers—my younger and my older—to suicide.

There’s no elegant way to say that. It’s a sentence that lands heavy. And for years, I didn’t know how to carry it. The pain, the questions, the feeling that something inside me shattered and wouldn’t come back together. Read More>>

Charitie Carpenter

My resilience was forged early, shaped by a childhood that demanded strength, adaptability, and hope long before I knew the words for them.
That same resilience drives me to walk alongside families during their hardest moments.

I started My Family Connection LLC because I saw firsthand how isolating it can be for parents navigating complex systems like behavioral health, foster care, or special education. Read More>>

Valerie Mazarowski

Growing up, my father taught me the importance of self-reliance and perseverance, no matter what challenges life throws your way. As a child, I watched him work tirelessly and never give up. Though he missed important family gatherings and holidays, he did it all for his family.

Early on, I discovered I wasn’t liking any 9-5 job. I loved being creative and decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business. Read More>>

Nikki Fleming

My resilience comes from being forced to rebuild — not once, but many times. A few years ago, I left an abusive relationship, packed up my life, and moved across the country to Virginia with nothing but my dog and a dream. I didn’t have a safety net or a plan B. What I had was a vision of the life I knew I deserved that was safe, free, and full of purpose. Read More>>