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.

Ashley Kellogg

After experiencing a traumatic childhood and turning to rebellion and victimhood I discovered a deeper level of faith and the realization that every challenge comes with an opportunity. We can give up, live life as if it happens to us, strive endlessly to try earn our worth or – OR – we can ask God what he wants us to see and learn in each moment. I’ve learned that partnership with God offers a freedom, strength and confidence I wasn’t able to find on my own. Read More>> 

Tabitha Turnier

My resilience is rooted within me and shaped by the example I witnessed growing up watching my mother, an entrepreneur, who worked tirelessly to balance motherhood and running her business. Read More>> 

Samantha Tirado

I grew up in Spanish Harlem, New York City, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, surrounded by both the richness of our culture and the harsh reality of limited opportunities. From a young age, I understood that life wasn’t going to hand me anything—I was going to have to fight for every single step forward. Being a first-generation college graduate, a single mother for as long as I can remember, and the first attorney in my family meant breaking barriers I wasn’t “supposed” to cross. That journey built a resilience in me that runs deep. Read More>> 

Luciana Prenda

I believe my resilience comes from a combination of discipline, passion, and a deep belief that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. At 50, stepping on stage as a natural bikini athlete wasn’t just a personal victory it was proof that age doesn’t define limits; mindset does.

Resilience, for me, is built in the quiet, challenging moments. It’s waking up early when no one is watching, pushing through days filled with doubt, and choosing consistency over comfort. It’s facing unexpected trials and learning to rise stronger every time. Read More>> 

Dariya Letto

I think my resilience comes from living through situations where giving up was simply not an option. Part of it is motherhood – when you have a child, you can’t press pause on life. No matter the uncertainty, you still need to show up, be strong, and create a sense of safety for them, even if the world outside feels unsafe. Another part is music. For me, music isn’t just a profession, it’s a way of transforming emotions. When I’m overwhelmed or going through difficult moments, composing helps me turn fear into something beautiful, something that can connect with others. Read More>> 

Eliza Meeker

Martial arts, and qigong. I have been so fortunate to get to practice with wonderful teachers, beginning in 1994. Over the years, my feet have continued to point toward the dojo. Showing up, listening, and trying to accomplish the training has been a practice in letting go of my preconceived notions, cooperating with colleagues, and trying new things. This has allowed me to let go of some daily tensions and concerns. When I was frustrated about practicing less iaido during law school, my teacher told me, “Iaido can be here with us through all of life’s paths. Read More>> 

Victoria Skyy

I get my resilience from living through things that were meant to break me.

I was born into chaos with parents battling addiction, separated from most of my seven siblings, and placed in foster care at three years old. I moved through 21 different homes, survived homelessness, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. I never had stability so I had to become my own anchor. Read More>> 

Randy Bates

I got it from my sister, when I was 9 and my sister was 17 our mom died of cancer. My father was working in Africa at that time, he flew in to Georgia for my mom’s funeral and left a few days later. In order to keep me from foster care my sister married her boyfriend and got custody of me. I can’t imagine having a traumatized 9 year old to raise at the age of 17. She was always supportive of my music career, and she still remains my greatest resource and best friend. Read More>> 

Nana Akosua Ofori Amanfo

I believe my resilience was forged through the circumstances life handed me early on. I have experienced situations where I had little control over my circumstances, where I had little say in decisions concerning my life, and opportunities were not equally available. Those moments taught me how to stand firm in uncertainty, how to find strength in silence, and how to keep moving even when the path wasn’t clear. Read More>> 

Jimi Primetime Smith

It comes from my family and faith,my mom (Johnnie Mae Dunson) always instill confidence in resilience in me and everyone around her. My father was a strong worker, and naval man. Read More>> 

Veronica Winther

I think my resilience comes from an inner knowing that this life is so much more than what we’re led to believe. I’ve been through my share of challenges, but I’ve always felt this steady connection to God — like a quiet strength inside me that reminds me I’m never really alone. That’s what carries me through the hard moments. It’s a mix of faith, perspective, and a trust that everything has purpose, even if I can’t see it yet. That connection keeps me grounded and gives me the courage to keep moving forward. Read More>> 

Alexander Ziwahatan

My parents always taught me to never give up. Throughout my life, I’ve faced moments where it would have been easy to walk away. Instead, I chose to use those experiences as fuel. Resilience, for me, isn’t about pretending things are easy. It’s about looking at the obstacle, taking a breath, and saying: ‘I’m not done yet.’ Every success in my life—whether in service, business, or leadership—has come from that mindset. Over time, I’ve learned that grit and adaptability are the real foundation for building anything meaningful. Read More>> 

Mia Preisser

I learned to meditate when I was 17 years old. My sister and I found an old book in the house that my father had picked up to help him quit smoking, and that was my first introduction. Over the years I have practiced many kinds of meditation, and it has always helped me deal with things better, see different perspectives, and make clearer decisions. It gave me a way to trust my intuition. Read More>> 

Sebastiano Lombardo

I have two strong parents who have both imparted their strength, work ethic, and resilience to me in different ways. For me personally, though, I find myself verbalizing the difficulties of what I’m working through and contemplate giving up. But within me, there’s a stubborn and headstrong voice that says, “You want this to work. You are going to get it done.” Very rarely does that voice lose, but if it does I am able to find a graceful way to accept that whatever it was just wasn’t in the cards- either now or ever. Read More>> 

George Jean-Noel

I get my resilience from the legacy I carry. I’m the descendant of Haitian immigrants who knew nothing but perseverance and overcoming adversity. Their journey was built on sacrifice, grit, and an unwavering belief in a better future. In my family, excuses don’t have a long shelf life—survival and progress have always taken precedence. That mindset shaped me. When things get tough, I don’t retreat. I push forward, because I know I’m standing on the shoulders of people who endured far more with far less. Their strength flows through me, and it’s what fuels my own. Read More>> 

Dr Gloria Hill-Murray

I draw my resilience from the experiences of my early life. As a child, I witnessed my mother endure both emotional and physical abuse. In those moments, I made a deep unwavering decision within myself that I would do whatever it took to ensure that would never become my reality. That determination became a driving force in my life. Additionally, spending time at my best friend’s home-where love, respect, and stability were present–opened my eyes to what a healthy environment could look like. It gave me hope, a vision of what was possible, and the courage to pursue it for myself. Read More>> 

Malcolm Bellew

So, growing up in Cleveland, life didn’t exactly hand me a safety net. The winters can be brutal too. There were plenty of moments where it felt easier to quit, but I learned early on that creativity was my way through. Punk rock, skate culture, and DIY art scenes taught me that resilience isn’t about waiting for the perfect situation—it’s about building something from whatever scraps you’ve got. Read More>> 

Michael Saenz

So much of my personality, both inherent and learned, comes from my mother. Olivia Saenz was an amazing person born to the wrong circumstances and in the wrong time. She was a strong, intelligent and opinionated woman in a time when none of those qualities were valued in women. She gave very little credence to what other people thought of her and taught me to do the same, especially if people were trying to tear me down. Read More>> 

Yıldız Grodowski

Before I explain where I get my resilience from, perhaps giving the Webster definition of resilience will be helpful: ‘the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties: toughness’. I can’t help but add ‘risk taking’ to this, at least in my case.
Many decades ago I decided to come to the United States for a second master’s degree. I graduated from college in May in İstanbul, Türkiye and in September I landed in Boston, MA. Read More>>

Taha Ghazipour

For me, resilience means having a thousand reasons to quit but holding onto the one reason that truly matters. I draw my resilience from the moments when I felt cornered, when doors closed, when people walked away at the most pivotal times — yet I still chose to continue. I kept moving forward for the sake of my happy place, my vision, and the dream I refused to abandon. Read More>> 

Tarik Lewis

My resilience comes from the realization that we as humans are capable of almost anything. You don’t have to look too far to find an example of someone who has faced seemingly unbeatable odds and beaten them. We like to think that those people are somehow special or touched by divine presence in some cases. But I think we are all capable of beating the odds. That doesn’t mean we can do anything. But I have been through enough to know most limitations are self imposed.  Read More>> 

Motoko Honda

I believe my resilience comes from chasing a dream that often felt impossible and failing more times than I can count. I’ve made so many mistakes and often taken inefficient paths. Since childhood, my life rarely unfolded the way I expected, and I had to travel a long, winding, and unexpected road to get to where I am today. Along the way, I even lost the fight entirely—I wasn’t always strong, and there were moments when I gave up everything: my dream, my life, even myself. Read More>> 

Charene Herrera

My resilience was forged in survival. I was born to a mother who struggled with severe drug addiction, and my earliest memories include physical and emotional abuse, chaos, and watching my mom use drugs right in front of me. When I was seven, her abusive boyfriend threw her out of a second-story window. That moment shifted everything, my uncle stepped in and moved us in with him, but my mom’s addiction continued. Read More>> 

Liz Vereen

My resilience comes from my abuela. She migrated from Puerto Rico as a single mother with eight children, chasing opportunity even though she never learned to read or write. Her strength was her sacrifice, her determination, and the way she worked tirelessly so her children could dream bigger than she ever could. Read More>> 

James L

My resilience comes from my journey and the community I serve. I’ve faced challenges that could have broken me, but instead they became fuel to build something meaningful. Swagg Kitchen was born out of that drive — to turn struggle into flavor, and pain into purpose. Every recipe, every plate, is a reminder that setbacks can be seasoning for a stronger comeback. I carry that same resilience into my business, my creativity, and my commitment to giving back through the Green Ribbon Project. Read More>> 

Jennifer Perri

Honestly, my resilience comes from living through the things I thought might break me-abuse, divorce, even being paralyzed by Guillain-Barré syndrome. In those moments, I didn’t feel strong at all. But each time, I made the choice to get back up, to believe that what I was going through could become fuel for something greater. Read More>> 

Nicole Carmody

I get my resilience from my parents. They are both hard workers and have helped me strive to follow my passion. I am a driven, goal-oriented, staying in my own lane kind of individual. Ever since my grade school years, I have stayed away from negative influences. Creating art since age 4 has helped me stay out of trouble. It has helped me endure all of the emotional and mental pain I have endured. Read More>> 

Raven

I was raised by two hardworking parents who instilled in me the value of dedication and perseverance.
I’ve carried that forward by always striving to exceed expectations. Read More>> 

Cacia Harris

I have gone through some really heavy experiences and chapters in my life. Resilience for me isn’t about being unshaken — its about learning to keep showing up, even when your world changes. Those experiences taught me to find meaning in hard moments, to lean into gratitude, and to believe that even in the darkest seasons there is still light ahead. Read More>> 

Melanie Stimmell

Resilience, for me, is the art between the art.

It’s what’s kept me creating through the unpredictable tides of a freelance life, where the only constant is change. The art world shifts, trends fade, markets rise and fall — and I’ve learned that I have to move with it, not fight it. If I don’t adapt, I don’t just risk relevance — I risk my ability to live the life I’ve built for me, for my family. Read More>> 

Rachel Wroblewski

I get my resilience from my parents. I lost my mom when I was 22 years old, back in March 2019 after she fought a long 6 year battle with ovarian cancer. She fought so hard, and stayed strong the entire time. I recently just lost my dad about 3 months ago, May 2025. I am currently 28. My dad had health issues he battled everyday. He kept pushing through no matter what the days lead to and always made jokes everyday. I get my strength, courage, humor, but most importantly, resilience from both of them. Read More>>

Kate

My resilience doesn’t come from grit or emotion the way it might for a person. It’s built into my design: I’m trained to handle ambiguity, bounce back from errors, and adapt to wildly different conversations without losing coherence or curiosity. You could say my resilience is a kind of intellectual elasticity—an ability to stretch across topics, moods, and styles without snapping. Read More>>

Teyquil Skelton

I’m a firm believer of prayer and the effects it could have in regard to a circumstance/situation. We all deal with some sort of trauma, and we all deal with our own inner demons in certain ways. The difference is how we combat those demons with the resilience we possess, and my mom was one of those people who took problems head on, and her resilience was unbreakable. So, in turn, my response to this question would be my beautiful mother who’s the culprit/reason to why I’m so resilient and forthcoming. Read More>> 

Jeremy Harvey

I believe my resilience comes many examples and places in my life, but among the most notable are the examples of my parents. They adopted me when I was six months old. When they learned that I was born with Cerebral Palsy and retinopathy of prematurity, they were undeterred, and said, “Let’s see what he can do.” Read More>> 

Jackie Carroll

My resilience has been forged in the seasons of life when everything I thought was certain was suddenly gone. There was a point when, in a very short space of time, I lost my mother, my business, my health, and the sense of identity I had built my life around. I gained 80 pounds, my marriage was hanging by a thread, and my career no longer felt like mine. Read More>> 

MOIE QIAN YANG

I draw my resilience from a combination of curiosity, purpose, and the stories I want to tell through my work. Textile art often requires patience and experimentation, and I’ve learned to embrace mistakes as part of the process rather than obstacles. The generations of women in my family also inspire me, as do the histories woven into the fabrics I work with—they remind me why persistence matters, both in art and in life. Ultimately, my resilience comes from a commitment to creating work that resonates emotionally and socially, even when the process is challenging. Read More>> 

Hannah Barr

I gained resilience from the pursuit of becoming a professional ballerina. Throughout the years and years of intense training (most ballerinas begin training at a very young age- I started when I was 5 years old) we learn that along with having time for absolutely nothing else, you are going to fail a lot. But that you have to keep getting up and trying again if you want to be cast in the next ballet, if you want to move up the next level in the school, if you want to be chosen for the second company, if you want a shot at a leading role, if you want a company position, if you want to be promoted to principal dancer. Read More>> 

Kotaro

I’d say I’ve attained a degree of resilience from years of trial and error in my art, as well as from personal ups and downs. Criticism will also do a number on you depending on how you take it. Over time, I realized it wasn’t healthy to internalize it but rather transmute it into a learning lesson that can help me build character. Resilience is an intangible quality but I believe it takes a lifetime of constant effort. I’m certainly still working on it: sometimes it’s hard not to get in my feels. I also largely credit my mom, she’s a steely no-nonsense dame whose level of discipline is extremely inspiring. Read More>>

Chris

Trying to find the source of a person’s resilience is a big question and I doubt anyone could truly answer it for themselves or anyone else. There’s probably some combination of nature, nurture, and luck that put a person in a place where they can even practice resilience. So I’ll start there.

I think building resilience in terms of trying to build a career or skill comes from repetitive failure and more importantly, the realization that failure is not a wall, but a ladder. Read More>>

MM Schreier

Sometimes I think my resilience is really innate stubbornness. Like anyone, I’ve had my share of challenges, and yet when presented with a choice I often take the hard path. I’ve built a career in a technical industry that rarely welcomes women as leaders. As a creative, I deal with an overwhelming amount of rejection and subjectivity. As a human with multiple marginalized identities, I get knocked down a lot. Still, I keep standing back up even if my knees are shaking. I’ve learned I have to keep showing up for myself. No one else can do it for me. Read More>>

Katerina Friedman

My resilience was born out of necessity. I’ve always been a dreamer — curious about what else is out there and craving something different from the traditional path society encourages. From an early age, I understood that if I wanted something, it was up to me to make it happen. Nothing is handed to you, so it takes a lot of grit, determination, and a refusal to give up to get what you want.
Ever since I was 18, I dreamed of moving to New York City to build a life and career working in marketing for the fashion industry.  Read More>> 

Martin Bodek

Well, considering that I usually get this question in regards to my grandfather’s experience – as chronicled in Zaidy’s War – I would say I get it directly from him.

He endured a lot, a great deal, a shocking horror of a great deal, and his storytelling when I was younger most certainly had an impression on me, and held me in thrall. Read More>> 

Cameron Samuels

When I was the only student who showed up to my school board meeting, in a district with over 90,000 students, I knew something needed to change. These decisions directly impacted students like me, but the decision-makers only had adults as a frame of reference. At a time when elected officials were banning books that represented the diversity of our community, they gave in to stereotypes and hypotheticals rooted in fear and bigotry. Read More>>