Stories & Perspectives on Resilience Building

We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.

Emma Bartfay

I think resilience is innate. Some of us know it effortlessly, while others need a bit of nudging. I’m the latter. The moment of realization came to me a decade ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was only 46 then, and my children were 9 and 11. It was a rude awakening, to say the least, and the thoughts of my children losing their mother terrified me. Perhaps it was also that raw encounter with possible death forced me to look inward—to know who I am at the core. It was then I learned there wasn’t a single bit of me willing to surrender. I reshaped my mind to focus on the beauty of life and watched myself grow stronger every day. Ten years on, I bear no resentment to the disease, but only gratitude for what I’ve gained. Read more>>

Luciana Golcman

I think resilience has always been a part of who I am. Growing up in Brazil, I was one of the top students in school. My path seemed very clear back then: I worked hard to get into the best high schools, all to secure a spot in one of the top colleges to study medicine. But at the last minute, I had this gut feeling that I needed to switch gears. So, I pivoted and decided to pursue marketing and advertising instead. I set my mind to it and got into the best Advertising college in Brazil. Read more>>

Malisa Michelle

I was born in the sixties, during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement—a time when the fight for freedom and equality was not just a national cause but a daily reality for so many. Growing up during such a pivotal era shaped my understanding of resilience, as I witnessed both the challenges and the triumphs of those who came before me. On top of that, being a child of a broken family and constantly facing struggles taught me early on how to persevere, adapt, and push forward, no matter the obstacles. Those experiences instilled in me a strength that has carried me through life’s ups and downs. Resilience, for me, isn’t just about surviving; it’s about finding purpose and power in the face of adversity. Read more>>

Ruth Jay Royce Mabwe

Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of a family of six (two sisters and three brothers), taught me invaluable lessons about resilience. South Africa is a land of extraordinary natural beauty, but like any country, it comes with its share of challenges. My mother, a single parent, raised all six of us on her own. There were times when I saw her struggle to provide even the basics—food on the table and a roof over our heads. Yet, through every storm, she ensured we had what we needed, even if it was just enough to get by. Read more>>

James Fagnant

I believe that I have developed my resilience through life’s obstacles by continuing to push forward and complete tasks that had no option but to be accomplished, even when I didn’t want to do them. The largest part of my resilience was developed while serving in the military for 8 years. I was deployed to Iraq for 1 year, from 2003-2004. This was the height of war and I experienced many situations that developed and grew my resilience. In many of those cases, the outcome was either life or death. The resilience was built in doing tasks that had no choice but to be completed, especially in environments that were harsh and unforgiving. I knew that if I could make it through those situations, I could make it through any task if I put my faith in God and myself to push through, despite any struggles I might encounter. Read more>>

Rob Fountain

My resilience comes from knowing no matter how bleak it looks I can and will find a way out! In October of 1995 I was diagnosed with bi-polar after a 7 day stay at the Georgia Mental Health Institute, each year for several years I struggled with deep bouts of depression, hypo manic and manic episodes. I attracted financial troubles and on occasion the police. In the fall of 97 I spent an additional 7 days in the Kennestone Mental Health wing. One day in the shower, (because I thought clearly in the shower for some reason) I prayed. I gave up, broken, hopeless and I said God if this is how my life is going to be allow me to find a way to make it a blessing, allow me to use it so I can share my story to help others. Read more>>

Ajunay Grayson

I believe I get my resilience from my father. I have watched him go thru many battles and obstacles and he always finds a way to come out on top and even thrive through any situation. I believe watching him and just having his genes has helped me develop my own sense of resilience and strength as well as the confidence to know I can go thru and get thru anything that is thrown on my path. With that mindset it has helped me move mountains in my own life and step over obstacles with ease and confidence knowing nothing can break me unless I allow it. Read more>>

Alysa Jackson

I would say my resilience comes from both my upbringing and my military background. My parents instilled in me the importance of perseverance from a young age. They taught me that no matter the challenges I face, it’s crucial to keep moving forward and find a way through. This mindset was further solidified during my time in the military, where I learned discipline, adaptability, and the ability to stay focused under pressure. The combination of these influences has given me the strength to tackle obstacles with determination and maintain a solution-oriented approach in everything I do. Read more>>

Saharsha Navani

I got my resilience by having an unwavering faith in the goodwill of humanity; despite how many times my faith has been tested to its extreme, maintaining my belief has always gotten me through.

During my freshmen year of high school, my best friend and I decided to start a business venture centered teen meditation and positive mental health practices to reduce the overly-prevalent stress in our school’s environment. It was the first time either of us had started a business; we saw all the movies and TV shows (The Social Network, etc—you get the picture), and researched the best we could to set us up for our own multi-million dollar success story. We did all the preparation: we launched our website, marketed on social media, and, eventually, we started gaining some revenue, amassing to over $15,000 at one point. Read more>>

Dr. Salina Womack

I grew up in a household of 8 children with a single mom, working evening and night shifts as a certified nursing assistant. I would see her come home tired and leave home tired. It gave me the idea that if you wanted something you would need to work for it. As the 3rd child out of 8. I saw my older sisters quit high school in the 9 grade each, but for some reason, they would always tell people that I was going to be the one to make it. Growing up on dirt roads surrounded by destitute families and drugs. I knew the only way out was the way I had to make for myself. Read more>>

Patrick “prettyboypatt” Edge

I get my resilience from the setbacks that I go through and when dealing with that I grow and become the best version of myself keeping a great mindset that I know I will make it through a storm. I also get my resilience from my mother who passed away due to Covid in April of 2020 and I watched her do it all no matter how she felt she pushed to give others and provide for her church her community and her family and I studied that. Read more>>

Ce’dra Rogers

Resilience – “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness; the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.”

James 1:2-5 (NIV) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of your lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Read more>>

Shawn Khalifa

Resilience is a deeply meaningful word for me. I first latched onto it while serving a life prison sentence. It became my anchor during a time when hope seemed impossible.

At the age of 15, I entered the youth justice system, an experience that abruptly ended life as I knew it. But even before then, life in the community had been difficult. My earliest memories were shaped by the Rodney King events in Los Angeles. At just three years old, my mother fled the violence and chaos. We lived in a neighborhood known as “The Jungles,” where threats didn’t come from the locals but from law enforcement and the rodents that infested our apartment complex. Read more>>

Robert Stark

I don’t know where my resilience comes from. I guess it comes naturally or perhaps it is a cope. I just manically keep at it and hope that my hard work will pay off and that I can achieve my dreams. Read more>>

Riley Guardalabene

Passion. I love what I do and will continue to do it regardless of whatever level of success I reach. I was taught it’s more important to be happy than rich and successful, and that’s something I keep in mind when things don’t feel like they’re going entirely my way. It can be hard to hold onto that thought, but when I’m able to step outside myself I remember that tattooing has been my dream since I was a kid and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it in my life. Read more>>

Kayleigh Dobbs

I suppose that just comes from life as I’ve experienced it. My childhood was difficult for a number of reasons but I’ve always known there are good things out there, and I’ve always chased them. Read more>>

Mingda Li

A lot of my resilience comes from hip-hop music. I used to be a rapper in college back in China, writing songs about my struggles, social issues, and love. Unlike most Harvard students, I come from a small area in China called Dangshan. Many people there have never, and likely will never, go abroad—let alone attend a top school like Harvard. Read more>>

Zuleika Guzman

Overcoming Grief and Building Resilience: My Journey Through Loss

The morning I was supposed to be packing for a trip to Florida ended up changing the course of my life. Instead of gathering bags and preparing for a vacation, I found myself in the hospital, delivering my son, Emmanuel, at 16 weeks and 5 days. My water broke early, and my world came crashing down. The pain was unimaginable—physically and emotionally. I had so many hopes and dreams for this child, and suddenly, they were all gone. Read more>>

Katrina Harris

My resilience comes from my life experiences and the lessons I’ve learned through challenges. From being a teen bride, a high school dropout, overcoming domestic violence, and even serving time myself, I’ve faced situations that could have broken me. Instead, they shaped me into who I am today—a wife, mother, philanthropist, and advocate for second chances. Read more>>

Elie Y. Katz

Resilience is really the backbone of any successful endeavor. That inner strength allows you to bounce back from setbacks, learn from mistakes, and keep pushing forward despite adversity. For me, it’s about having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and a deep-seated belief in your ability to get there. It’s about embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and never giving up on your dreams, no matter how tough things get. I strongly believe that growth opportunities are within every challenge. Read more>>

Laura Bush

Life has a way of throwing curveballs. Sometimes, the ball flies past you, and you miss it. Other times, you duck, and occasionally, the ball hits you hard. It may even knock you down. But with resilience, you rise again. Each time I’ve been knocked down, I’ve found a way to stand back up, learn from the experience, find the silver lining, and grow stronger. Resilience has been my constant companion, teaching me the power of perseverance and the beauty of embracing life’s unpredictability. Read more>>

Eva Hamer

Studying Nonviolent Communication and Sarah Peyton’s Relational Neuroscience helped me understand how much the way we speak to ourselves matters. I’ve been able to shift an internal monologue from one that was quite sharp and critical towards warmth and care. It’s important that we have our own backs, especially in the darkest moments. Throughout failures, mistakes, and exhaustion, we are responsible for being gentle and kind to ourselves in word, tone, and deed, just like we’d demand on behalf of others. Read more>>

Rook Riley

My resilience developed from pivotal moments and the people who have shaped my life. My dad was a huge influence—his steady nature and unwavering determination taught me the value of perseverance and grit. He was a fireman and carpenter who took care of the family when his father died. That foundation helped me navigate some of the toughest challenges, like my time in the Army, the devastation of 9/11, and a particularly nasty divorce that tested me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Now have a fantastic partner and a small tight-knit group of friends who are my rock. We share everything and lift each other when we need it. Read more>>

Kathy Weyer

I was a young professional in the early seventies; what we dealt with in retrospect seems huge, but at the time it just felt like we did what we could. If we were uncomfortable, we left a job and gave ourselves a promotion and a raise because staying in the same job either meant to put up with harrassment or get fired for being uncooperative. Read more>>

Fish Sticks

As a kid, my mom instilled confidence in me. She was a single mother of three, and As the oldest, it was my job to be the leader, the example. When my mom had her fourth child, she was put in a coma for 6 months. Seeing her like that is one of the lowest moments of my life. When she came out of it, she wasn’t able to walk and had to be put in a nursing home. Me and my siblings were put in foster care. Through visitations, I could tell that my mom never gave up her faith that she would overcome her condition, and was always the most positive person in the room. Her strength gives me strength and I hope that through my career, I can one day get enough money to take care of her. Read more>>

Jon Stevanovich

Optimism comes from thinking about the future and the possibilities in which my business can go. I think it’s fun and that’s what gives it a good positive tune to my business and that I believe in my product and myself to make this a successful business. When I’m not feeling positive or enjoying it, I realize that I need to take a break and try again another day when I’m in the right mood because for this is this is something I wanna make sure I’m enjoying and putting in the right mental effort when it’s appropriate and not make it laborious and not fun. Read more>>

Flintheartbabi

From what I can remember, I don’t think there’s ever been a moment where my drive to move forward, despite the odds, suddenly spiked or clearly came into being. It’s always naturally been a part of me that pushes to battle what’s in front without looking back in the middle of it. As an artist, I feel it’s necessary to understand resilience and know when to be proud of it, harness it, and acknowledge it. Every day, I do whatever I can to progress toward my end goals. Giving up or stopping at any of the hurdles wouldn’t have shaped me or the art I’m so proud of. My resilience isn’t something I’ve built as a habit but more of an instinct. Read more>>

Paul English

I grew up in a three bedroom house with nine family members, and my Mom was very sick during the first ten years of my life. My aunts helped raise the seven children. Through this, we had to learn how to depend on others, and somehow find confidence that my Mom was going to be ok. Read more>>

Lee Anne Stone

I have always been someone who put their head down and got to work when it came to achieving my goals or simply just getting something done. I think it is just part of who I am, but in 2009 my resilience was tested in a way that I could never have imagined.

On June 15, 2009 my husband and I had our second child, Isaiah. From the moment Isaiah was born, he was HARD. He was fussy, cranky, happy, sad and mostly all at the same time! At first, we just thought he had colic so we set out to try to find the best way to help ease his tummy issues and give him relief so he would sleep. There were many nights in the first few months where 1-2 hours a sleep at a time was the norm. Add to that, that we also had a 2 year old at the same time and we were a mess! What an exhausting time. Read more>>

Zave Smith

The Rabbi was saying, “Uncle Joe really enjoyed his sweets and playing cards”. A teenage me was sitting in the third row and asking, “yes, but what did he do?”
I have always been project oriented, as were my parents and my brother. It was my time in the military that taught me how to channel and develop willpower to overcome challenges. It did not matter if it was raining, or cold or that you have not slept in several days. If you had to march from point “A” to point “B” then march you did. You paid a very heavy price for failure. Read more>>

Abby Coello

I believe my resilience comes from two main sources: my upbringing and my passion for creating. Growing up in Honduras as one of five siblings, I witnessed firsthand the strength and determination of my family, especially my parents. They taught me the value of perseverance, no matter the challenges. Read more>>

Desi Wojtowicz

My father. He was an incredible man that was well loved by everyone that came into his life. He was a very successful businessman with a heart of gold. He would give (and literally has given) his shoes on his feet and the shirt off his back for others. Although he had a kind heart, he had the ability to be true to himself and not get walked all over. I am him. I love giving when I can, but I also have a strong fight for what I believe in. I not only make sure to have my back covered but I will always go above and beyond for my clients. Read more>>

Celeste Gross

My resilience comes from being a survivor. Everything I have I accomplished on my own so when I’m feeling low, I just look at my life and I remember that I survived 100% of all the challenges that have been thrown at me. in my opinion it does not kill you, it makes you stronger and we only grow in a hard moment so as much as I hate the hard moments, I know that I would come out them stronger then I was before. Read more>>

Chester Huang

Serving in the Marine Corps for a year has profoundly shaped my resilience. The rigorous training and challenging environments fostered a mindset of adaptability and strength. Each obstacle, from physical endurance tests to teamwork in high-pressure scenarios, taught me to embrace discomfort and push through adversity. The camaraderie built among fellow service members reinforced the importance of support and collective resilience. I learned to approach challenges with a strategic mindset, finding solutions rather than dwelling on setbacks. This experience not only strengthened my mental fortitude but also instilled a sense of purpose that I carry with me in every aspect of life. Read more>>

Kristin Fehrman

My grandparents are the most resilient people I have ever met. They grew up in Traverse City, Michigan during the Great Depression and lived near each other on their family farms, attending a one room school house together. Determined to work hard and preserve their property for future generations, my aunt still lives on the house my grandma was born in today! Read more>>

Hannah Jose

I was first placed in foster care at age 4. I remember being in the back of the social worker’s car thinking “I’m alone now” – because I was & I was ever since then. I lived with family members and in shelters until I was 16 and decided to get emancipated so I could leave the system and try to make a life out of so much trauma. I wound up in a very abusive relationship with no way out. Resilience is the perfect word. I had to decide to be the boat that wasn’t going to let the water get inside of me because then I would sink. I developed a panic disorder despite that. I couldn’t understand why my mind seemed to be against me. Everything was as calm as it could be in the 3D, yet I felt like a catastrophe was happening 24/7. Read more>>

Leigh Witherell

My resilience is inherited from my mother and all the women in my family. I am from a long line of poor farm people. My maternal grandparents were very poor, but my grandmother always made the best of what they had. I learned to not focus on what could or should be, but instead to deal with what is there and to make the best of it. This helped me the most both when I gave birth to my children and when I had to bury my 32 year old daughter. I can’t make the most of her death as it has been the most devastating event of my life, but my resilience has helped to get up each morning, get into my studio, and get on with it. It turns out that gift the women in my life bestowed on me has been the most valuable to surviving what is now my life. Read more>>

Nikki Jackson

I credit my resilience to a combination of personal challenges, steadfast faith, and the unwavering love of my children. Each obstacle—whether financial, emotional, or relational—taught me to adapt and find creative solutions rather than succumb to defeat. These experiences became building blocks for the strength I now lean on when the road gets tough.

My faith plays a vital role in how I face adversity, reminding me that hardship is temporary and can be transformed into a catalyst for growth. In moments of doubt or fear, turning inward to pray or reflect helps me regain clarity and resolve. Read more>>

Jacqueline Crider

My resilience comes from the challenges I’ve faced and overcome throughout my life. During my younger years, I balanced working full-time, attending night law school, and enduring a two-and-a-half-hour daily commute. It was grueling, but it taught me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to, no matter how difficult or overwhelming it seemed. That realization became a cornerstone of my resilience—it showed me that perseverance and determination could carry me through even the toughest situations. Read more>>

Dorothy Smith, Mba

Dorothy’s resilience was forged long before Bread and Bake ever came to life, in a small, vibrant neighborhood in Bogotá, Colombia. Growing up in a community where opportunities were scarce and higher education was a distant dream, Dorothy’s mother instilled in her children the belief that hard work and determination could move mountains. Read more>>

Shaun Harris

Growing up in poverty, survival becomes second nature from a young age. When you’re conditioned to navigate hardship, the prospect of upward mobility often feels distant, yet it grants you a profound understanding of resilience. You learn not only how to endure when you hit rock bottom, but also how to rise again. This is why those with the least often dare to dream the biggest. The secret to my success lies in the ability to persist—even after surrendering to despair—finding the strength to rise once more and press forward, no matter the odds. Read more>>

Arianna Longobardi

My resilience is born from a life shaped by challenges and an unyielding determination to rise above them. Growing up biracial—half Italian, half Black—and being raised by a single dad with my younger brother, I always felt caught between worlds, never fully belonging to one. My father, my anchor and role model, passed away when I was just 15, leaving me to navigate the storm of grief and adulthood far too early. His absence was profound, but it also lit a fire in me—a drive to honor his sacrifices by forging my own path, no matter how difficult the road ahead might seem. Read more>>