Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.

Chantal Taylor

I get my resilience from my grandmother, Gloria Taylor. She was the true definition of strength, grace, and perseverance. Watching her navigate life with unwavering faith, kindness, and determination taught me how to stand tall, even in the face of adversity. Read More>>

Kelly Stucker

My resilience primarily came from a tough childhood and my desire (even at a very young age) to see the good in every situation. My grandmother took me in at five to give me as fair a shot as she could provide at a stable, secure life. Read More>>

Dr. Allegra McGrew

My resilience stems from a foundation built on unwavering support. I was incredibly fortunate to grow up surrounded by a ‘village’ of parents, grandparents, and chosen family who instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything. This early framework taught me that challenges are not roadblocks, but opportunities to adapt, seek guidance, and persevere. Read More>>

Jay Horne

my resilience comes from my relationship with God. My faith has always been my anchor. Even in my hardest moments, I knew God was with me, and that gave me strength I didn’t always feel on my own. I’ve learned to lean on Him for everything—especially when life doesn’t make sense. Read More>>

Jessica Delvo

I knew exactly what I wanted to do in high school. Graphic design wasn’t just a career path—it was my thing, the thing that made me light up, the thing I could lose myself in for hours. Straight out of school, I landed a job in the field, ready to take on the world. Read More>>

Jordan Mickey

I get my resilience from my experiences, my community, and my drive to succeed. Growing up and navigating spaces where I had to advocate for myself and others taught me how to push forward, even when things weren’t easy. Leading the Black Creatives Club + at College for Creative Studies, balancing multiple roles in my career, and continuously evolving in my field have all reinforced my ability to adapt and persevere. I also have an incredible support system: Read More>>

Tony Haber

I get my resilience from my family, my faith, and my heritage. Growing up in Cuba, I learned to be resourceful and adaptable, and my family’s history of overcoming challenges has taught me the importance of perseverance. My Catholic faith has also been a source of strength and guidance, and I believe that my heritage has given me a unique perspective on life. Read More>>

Amy Pickering

Building resilience takes time, strength, help from people around you, and faith. Like most people, I have experienced
some setbacks along the way. Building resilience is a continual process of learning and growth, so I have taught myself to surround myself with positive people, be patient with myself, and rely on faith.
Faith builds resilience by helping us to see our current circumstances through a long-view perspective. Read More>>

Zeyu Liu

Resilience, for me, wasn’t something I was born with—it’s something I’ve slowly built over time by working through uncertainty and staying committed to making a real difference in the lives of others.

One of the moments that shaped this mindset came while working on an AI-assisted shared decision-making system for older adults with chronic illnesses. Read More>>

Marina Koetz

My resilience comes from a combination of inner strength and the experiences I’ve had throughout my life. It started when I was a child, exploring art and feeling the joy it brought me. That passion for creativity is where I first found my determination. Read More>>

Maureen Enayo

Resilience is something I believe we all have within us. As human beings, our minds often create doubt, making us question whether we can endure certain struggles. But the truth is, we have survived 100% of our worst days, proving our strength time and time again. Read More>>

 Jonathan Rosenthal

I first read about yoga as a teenager but held back from trying it because I didn’t want to be the only teenage boy in a class full of middle-aged women. However, when an ankle injury took me out of running and finally led me to a yoga center, I discovered an amazing practice and community that transformed my physical and mental health. Read More>>

JZ Murdock

I’ve found that my resilience is partly something I inherited at birth—I was naturally stubborn and fascinated by reality to the point where my mother said I never wanted to go to sleep. However, it’s also something I built piece by piece through a lifetime of diverse challenges and experiences. Read More>>

Jenn Borovy

My resilience is rooted in my childhood, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. My mom worked tirelessly to provide for us while my dad battled addiction. I spent most of my time with close friends and at church, and that sense of community helped carry me through. Read More>>

Gina Oliveira

My resilience is rooted in the discipline I cultivated early on through ballet. In this profession, you expose your true self—every vulnerable part of you—and face the possibility of acceptance or rejection; it’s simply part of the journey. From the very beginning, I’ve felt a deep imprint of purpose in my heart, knowing what I am and what I’m meant to do. My faith has been my guiding light, providing strength along the way as I forge a new path forward. Read More>>

Shana Adler

I think from an early age I knew it was up to me to make a life for myself. It was “how” and “when” not “if.” And now I have 4 kids so 4 more reasons to keep pushing, keep fighting. Read More>>

Eric Evans

After getting hit by a train saving my dog , father passing, totaling my truck, losing my girl, among others in a year span, I literally went through hell. I get my resilience from staying true to myself and always saying: never ever ever ever give up to my friends and fam as well as myself. Read More>>

John Verduin

I get my resilience from the lessons I learned through sports. Growing up, sports weren’t just a hobby, they were my foundation. I wasn’t always the most naturally gifted athlete, but I was determined to outwork anyone I competed against. Read More>>

Joshua Braff

With the prompt to the idea of “meaningful projects” I think of the purpose of the person tempted by the idea of creating something from nothing in the name of attaining awareness of their identity. Can this come from painting a rose? Definitely. Read More>>

Nancy Rice

My resilience comes from within, shaped by my past experiences, my parents’ journey to this country, my upbringing, and the challenges I’ve faced—like my divorce, starting a business with no prior experience, and learning to support myself as a single mom. Read More>>

Hannah Jackson

When I moved to Austin seven years ago, I was stepping into the unknown. Fresh out of a long-term relationship, I found myself in a new city, looking to put down roots, build a slower, intentional life, and find a new job. Read More>>

Hak Sung Kim

“I believe my resilience comes from facing challenges and setbacks. Most of my early attempts were as fleeting as smoke, and I often found myself in overwhelming situations. But having nothing to lose gave me the strength to start over. Looking back, I see that those failures were actually great teachers—they taught me to be more detail-oriented and realistic in every project. Read More>>

Kristen Baldwin

My resilience? I definitely got that from my mom. Growing up, it was just her, my brother, and me. I remember watching her juggle life with this fierce determination that never seemed to waver, even during the toughest times. She took on a second job when we needed the extra money, but when it meant she might miss my brother’s basketball games or my cheerleading competitions, she didn’t hesitate to let it go. That showed me what really mattered. Read More>>

Marcus Bailey

Since the moment I came into this world, music has been a part of me. From the time I could walk, I was running around the house, singing, dancing, and being generally boisterous. Growing up with a single mother after my father passed away when I was young, I found comfort in music. Read More>>

Karla Perez-Solorzao

Resilience is something I deeply value and is rooted in my personal experiences and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It comes from the inspiration I gained from my father, who demonstrated incredible strength and courage when he risked his life to save someone in a life-or-death situation. Read More>>

Kevin Starks

My resilience comes from a combination of my upbringing and my faith. I was raised by a single mother who, despite her own academic shortcomings, stressed the importance of a quality education for my siblings and me. Financial setbacks and housing insecurity pushed her to rise above countless obstacles with little to no help from others.  Read More>>

Gary Lee And Leesa Clark- Price

Gary:
Witnessing the murder/suicide of his mom on a German military base when he was only 6 yrs old. Then being shipped back to the states within a week following to find himself in a new and complicated family situation with a step sibling ( 7 yrs older than Gary) who resented his arrival and proceeded to abuse him in every way possible for the next 7 years. Read More>>

Carey Angdahl

This accident is where I get my resilience from… On May 4th, 2017, a normal morning as an electrician, I had, what was supposed to be a quick stop, to show up at a jobsite and install one quick light fixture in the ceiling. Little did I know that this was almost my last day. Read More>>

Alexa & Dina

I get my resilience from my past experiences and supportive family and friends that I surround myself with. After college, I moved out of New Jersey and decided to pursue a career dancing professionally in Los Angeles, CA. This was a cutthroat industry that was moving at a rapid pace and had both its ups and downs. Read More>>