‘Transitions’
By Amanda Rugenski
UGA Faculty
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Animals explore the world with their eyes, and use visual information to find food, mates, shelter, and escape from predators. An amazing diversity of eye shapes and colors contrasts with structural similarity of many animal eyes. Animal eyes are also witnessing profound environmental changes from human activity around the world."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"When I feel despair and hopeless, I look deep inside myself. I realize the vulnerable person inside of me and begin to have doubts if I can start all over again. But even if it is tiny, if I find myself trying to find hope, the feeling of fear changes to a fluttering heart and excitement. That is where I gain my confidence and confidence becomes faith. The faith I have in myself makes who I am today. When you are hopeless, you feel shabby for showing your ugly and vulnerable side. But that is the only moment you can honestly see the true appearance of yourself, and it is the only chance and time you can create the true and genuine you. Thus, do not be afraid of despair. Take it as an opportunity for growth and becoming a better person. Fear is something that stimulates you, but only a small part of you. "
UGA Undergraduate Student
"The Butterfly by Pavel Friedmann was written on June 4, 1942. The poem was written in Terezín concentration camp. Pavel was only 21 years old when he wrote it. This poem embodies resilience. The butterfly, described as a beacon of light inside the concentration camp, highlights the good things about life in Terezín. Pavel describes finding his people, again focusing on the good in the midst of what can be described as one of the cruelest moments in history."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a recording of me sight reading the theme from “Schindler’s List.” During quarantine, I watched the movie and was completely moved by it. I also decided to sight read for the recording because it felt more natural. I made it a goal to improve my sight reading skills on piano during quarantine. This piece represents great resilience that was displayed in the movie, and I was able to be resilient during quarantine by using piano as an outlet."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a recording of me playing the tuba in the ninth grade. At the time artistic resilience meant playing through the wrong notes, trying to maintain a consistent sound and style, and analyzing what could be better the next time through. Now I am a senior at University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music and these themes have remained largely unchanged. To produce a better product one must be willing to make mistakes -- bold mistakes. A mistake never found is never fixed. Artistic resilience is making yourself vulnerable in an attempt to create something meaningful. Embrace the discomfort."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I find resilience through the encouragement and support of my friends and family."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"The traditional spiritual "Over My Head" talks about how even though the world around you may be filled with noise, just above the chaos, you can hear sweet music. The lyrics are "Over my head, I hear music in the air. Oh, there must be a God somewhere." I was curious to know how my family has been persevering through these difficult times. I asked my mom what she does to practice resilience, and this was her answer."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Just over two years ago, the worst attack on the Jewish population in the United States occurred at a Pittsburgh synagogue. This is not an isolated incident, for antisemitism occurs all over the world. As a Jewish woman, it is difficult for me to witness the attacks made against my own people. However, as a community, we become closer and stronger despite all of the hatred. In this sound clip, there is a shofar playing in the background, for the shofar represents continuity and a hopeful future in Jewish culture. The prayer recited at the end is the Shehecheyanu (שהחינו), which is the expression of gratitude for new experiences and continuation of life."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"As a musician, resilience is a huge part of our field. Regularly, musicians are asked to do unbelievable things to meet demands. Whether this is through the vehicle of our instrument or just in life generally- there are always challenges. Yet, musicians always find a solution. Jenni Watson's Ray is a perfect image of this sentiment. Written above the score of the piece is the following: "A short piece reflecting on the beauty and hope that a ray of sunlight can bring on a dark day." Unfortunately, there are many dark days as a musician- however, by having a glimmer of hope and bravery, the darker days can be less dark. Musicians are resilient people."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Over the summer I was faced with a scary medical diagnosis and treatment process that was psychologically and emotionally challenging. I turned to music to help get me through that, and this is a collage of some of the types of things I was listening to."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is an original piece representing the journey of resilience. The audio begins with the rummaging of a desk, depicting the copious amount of school work that many students struggle with every day. A hollow-sounding drone sits underneath. The piano is in battle with itself harmonically, overcoming adversity as it finds its way to the tonic of F-Major. Once the piano reaches this point of clarity, the sounds underneath it ceases. This represents the feeling of overcoming stress and anxiety as we finally finish our work for the day."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a recording of my high school band playing the piece "Danzon No. 2" by Arturo Marquez. It was my sophomore year of high school and we travelled from Texas to Chicago to perform at the Midwest Clinic. We worked for months on end for this concert and I remember practicing this solo countless times to prepare myself to stand up and play it in front of thousands of people. There were times in rehearsals where I wouldn't play my best and would be disappointed in myself afterwards, but I knew I just needed to work hard and keep practicing. As our Midwest concert finally came I felt my nerves kicking in. But when it was time for my solo, I can remember standing up, taking a deep breathe, and letting go. Not only was I proud of myself after this performance, but this was the moment I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I sightread the theme from Schindler's List because this movie really moved me. I watched it during quarantine and it opened my eyes to the horrible oppression the Jews faced during the Holocaust. I chose to sightread it because during quarantine, I made it a goal to improve my piano sight reading skills. During this strange time of COVID, it is important to set goals, no matter how small, in order to keep your mind occupied. If you listen closely, you can hear a siren in the distance."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This dear friend has found beauty in brokenness. Born into drug abuse and raised by her great-grandmother, she is a role model for her widespread, non-traditional family. Alongside her daily resilience to love the unlovable and hope when there is none, she is the first in her family to attend college. She is the definition of resilience, grasping circumstances and turning difficulties into strength."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This recording of three brass players practicing on top of the Intramural Field parking deck was taken on a Sunday night. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, practicing space has become very limited, and therefore, musicians have had to adapt and find new places and ways to practice. However, the HHSOM community has displayed resilience and strength in finding alternate methods to keep sharing music both within the school and the Athens community at large."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"When I think of resilience I immediately think of nature. Nature is a constant and pure example of how something can be damaged but restored quickly and with purpose. In this sound file you can hear samples of sounds in nature- crunching leaves, crickets, and rainfall. Each of these show a different, yet important part of the cycle of life which is a beautiful example of nature's resilience."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a poem I wrote for The UGA Hodgson Singers in March, after Covid shut down the school of music. Resilience is gratitude in the face of overwhelming sadness, and the hope and faith that we will get to make music in person again."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a piece that I am currently working on this semester, and the audio is from a video of me playing it that I posted on my music Instagram account. Sometimes as performers, it's easy to get in the way of yourself, analyzing yourself and going through everything you do with a fine toothed comb. But sometimes you have to take a step back, remember why you are doing this in the first place, and enjoy the music, because that's when it sounds the best anyway. Not when you are thinking and being analytical in the moment. This was my last take from recording, and it was when I stepped back and enjoyed the music, getting over the barrier, which was myself. The first five seconds of the recording is just silence, which I use to focus and feel the music before I play it, which benefitted how I sounded and played for the recording."
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UGA Undergraduate Student
"In 2020, we've all had to cope with the unpredictable, and I decided to show this through a compilation of the various interruptions in my piano performances -- both during in-person recitals in the past and during attempted recordings under quarantine. What with cell phones, sneezes, and malfunctioning smoke detectors, no two runs of a piece are exactly alike, but my response to all the disturbances is the same: I just keep playing."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"To put it simply, living through a pandemic has been nothing short of horrible. On top of that, by moving back to Athens I've been wrenched away from my support system, and a lot of the times it feels like I'm completely alone. What has been keeping me going is calling my long distance friends and lots of reminiscing on the magic that can come from getting together and making music that you connect to. That is what's keeping me resilient in this time. This is a recording of some of those friends and I in pre-pandemic days singing an arrangement of "Run to You" by Pentatonix. The chorus, just four simple words, makes me feel at home, and expresses my feelings towards those keeping me resilient. "I'll run to you.""
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This improvisatory chant performance depicts the resiliency and restlessness of the creative spirit."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Recorded on the steps of the Lyndon House, this particular performance of Fable by Common Currents tells a tale of resilience. Rather than play for in-person audiences, 44 bands gave virtual performances for the 2020 Historic Athens Porch*fest. The music industry is suffering greatly in this time, and our community is missing the live music we need for our souls’ wellbeing, but this online event managed to shine through the darkness. The song in this excerpt of Common Currents’ performance, Fable, reflects the thoughts many people in positions of privilege have had in response to recent events. While the ally’s struggle is very minimal compared to that of the oppressed, resilience is required during the education and reflection process that many are undergoing right now. We must work continuously to open our hearts to the BLM movement."
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UGA Undergraduate Student
"When I was in high school, a teacher unexpectedly died in the middle of the semester shaking our entire community to its core. A year later, my grade went on an annual class trip he used to lead. When we were inside his favorite chapel, people began to share old stories and memories of him. There was a beautiful, white piano there and I asked if I could play. They said yes, and this was the song that rang across the room comforting us all, a reminder to continue loving those we can even in times of great sadness."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Being a Music Performance major means a lot of high expectations and a lot of self doubt. What I've learned during my time here at UGA is to let go of any negative thoughts or fears and just let it go and have fun playing beautiful music. To me, that shows a lot of psychological resilience because there are so many obstacles throughout the mind that have to be hurdled over in order to succeed. It's not easy, but it's never impossible. You can do it. You are good enough. I believe in you."
"I play the violin, and I recently recorded the second movement of Bach’s G minor Violin Sonata, Fuga. The recording process was very difficult for me, and it took me two weeks to get a recording I liked. I was recording the Fuga for a competition, and the night before the deadline, I still didn’t have “the one.” I decided to record once more, and if I didn’t like it, I would just pick one of my other takes and send it. That last recording on the night before the deadline ended up being my best recording session. I was able to push through the difficulties and finish my recording project with success."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"The audio is compiled of various to-do lists I left in my phone, and notes I wrote to myself during a hard season of my life. During the hardest days, resilience can be demonstrated by the smallest actions."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Two years ago, I was in Argentina with my cohort during Spring Break. The group you're hearing is a band of natives that had their communities destroyed and ravaged when Europeans first arrived in the country. They keep their culture alive and spread knowledge about their heritage through performances at different institutions and venues between sets."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"To me, resilient is something every good musician needs to be. We need to be able to push through the challenges we face, and recover when knocked down. This audio file is from the beginning of the Premier Solo by E. Bordeau, a solo I played when I was auditioning for college. One piece of advice I got before auditions was to recover whenever I made a mistake, because the best way to see someone's potential is not by how many mistakes they make, but by how well they recover from those mistakes. That, in my opinion, is what resilience is all about."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square represents how I am a blooming flower and I matter just like the rest of them. I am not just any flower.It also represents how I matter just like the rest because we are the same blooming flower."
What materials did you use to make your square?
Paint and colored pencils
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Every animal perfectly exemplifies resilience. They face illness, injury, and adversity, yet they press on. They continue to protect their families, search for food, and create their ideal habitats no matter what life throws their way. This is resilience."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"The phrase “turning into lemonade” is a great example of resilience. Turning the sour things in life, lemons, into something sweet and refreshing, lemonade, is something I feel black people embody. With the many challenges thrown at us everyday we could easily give up. But not only do we survive, we strive. With things like #BarbequeBecky and #Tweetlikethe1600’s, black people have a way of turning negative things into entertainment. I showed this by creating a lemon tree out of toothpicks, fabric, and pasta noodles that hangs over the black power sign selling lemonade. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My work is supposed to represent resilience, so I decided to show that I become resilient through music. And the guitar is where I first became obsessed with music. After the sudden shift in my life where I became more in tune with the music, I became even more obsessed with writing and lyrics, and what they mean. Sooner or later, I repeatedly began to cycle through music when I wasn’t feeling like myself. It inspired me and allowed me to better myself and made me feel that I wasn’t alone. I feel rejuvenated when I listen to music and it brings me joy to just listen to something that has meaning. With music I can escape and find inspiration, not only with words, but with the thin strings I graze with my fingertips."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square shows resilience through many ways. I tried to show it through perseverance. When I’m sad, angry or just bored I take the time to listen to music. This is shown through the earbuds. The paper ball and the pencil represent my active thinking and my way of seeing my own problems. This also helps me think of new ways to find a solution. The way that the paint is thrown on everything shows that I’ve blended myself into my own world and don’t see a way to escape. This ties back into the theme as me being being in my own world helps me build resilience between problems that go on. This sense of being in my own world helps me show that I can preserve through the toughest challenges."
Athens, GA Community
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My piece shows resilience by showing what I like to do when I am feeling down. Listening to music and stitching on pants helps me take my mind off on what's going on in the world. It helps me deal with stress. The song lyric is a popular song by Shawn Mendes called stitches. I used this lyric because I stitched embroidery thread on the jean to make a design and because I am interested in Textile art."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My artwork shows resilience because my siblings and mom are the ones who motivate me to keep going forward and give me the strength to do so. The butterflies symbolizes both my mother and siblings because of how they say they admire the way butterfly wings are delicate and yet they sustain life. Whenever we feel defeated my mother tells us that even if we feel at our worst we can still get through it together. My family is who gives me resilience every single day. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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UGA Undergraduate Student
"Recycle for days!"
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My mom's always been the one to encourage me and tell me anything straight up without sugar-coating it. I wrapped the square with clear plastic and made the little pieces inside so it would resemble a baby rattle. The little pieces just remind me of her and how much she's helped me grow since I was a little kid. "
UGA Undergraduate Student
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Athens, GA Community
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My squares shows resilience through symbols that represent what helps me go through life. The symbol in the bottom left represents family and family is a huge part of what represents resilience. Music and sports is a big part of my life whenever I’m having a hard time. The object in the middle is a brain/sponge. The sponge is symbolized as my brain soaking up the good things to overcome the bad. "
UGA Faculty
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Athens, GA Community
"Surviving the politics of now. Feeling the divide. Trying to stay friends with others whose beliefs are suddenly and clearly very different from my own. Resilience is learning to love differently and more deeply than I've known before."
Athens, GA Community
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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Oconee County Schools K-12
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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Athens, GA Community
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My artwork shows resilience through many ways. I represented my passion for literature by using a page from a book for my hair. To represent my favorite time of day as night time, I used dark tones, glitter and a star. A big part of my life is my family and they always are present. I represented my family with puzzle pieces along with symbols that represent things they like to do. The puzzle in the eye is important because it shows how important my family is to me now and in the future. It is a blurred piece to represents the not always stable moments but also for how we always solve problems as a familia. The butterfly shows the free expression that I feel when I am with my family which makes me feel stronger in myself. "
UGA Undergraduate Student
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"Since I was adopted, it symbolizes a second chance at life! (A better life!)"
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience is continuing no matter what. When I think of personal resilience, I think of my Uncle Tom because even though he had cancer, he continued to work and never complained and had a positive outlook on life."
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UGA Undergraduate Student, Outside of Athens, GA
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K-12 Private Schools Near Athens
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"On my square I have the negative words “rejected” and “hopeless” due to migration. When I came to the United States, I was rejected and seen/treated differently than others. I became hopeless by seeing my immigration status and seeing how I had no future. I reached out for help that gave me chances to have hope. With this, I lifted myself up and I was able to turn any negativity into a life challenge that I make positive. The nail in the middle represents me and how I broke the mirror with hope and positive thinking. Looking at the negativity that people have thrown at me has made me stronger. I have been able to realize that I am capable of facing any obstacle and that I can turn it into something positive. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square shows resilience because my family is what keeps me feeling strong and keeps me sane. When I look at my mom and dad I want to be like them because even though they had to grow up quickly and move from their country they worked hard and got to where they want to be. I confide in my sisters because whenever I feel like I’m having a hard time I tell one of my sisters and they make me feel more at peace. The wires represent that people try to stop us from trying to live happy, but when we are together we are stronger. "
Athens, GA Community
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UGA Undergraduate Student
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Athens, GA Community
"For me being resilient is about introspection and finding my inner strength. The world is tough. Being a Black Bi-racial woman is tough. Navigating Motherhood is tough. I viscerally want to protect my kids from hurt and harm, but I know that I won't be able to, and that I shouldn't even, shield them from all pain. Above all else, I have got to be able to look at myself square in the eye at any given time and be able to sit with my words, choices, actions and character. It takes a backbone of steel to be resilient."
UGA Staff
"My daughter (who was born in Japan) moved away from a bad relationship from Japan to America when she was 3. I have had to raise her alone, and she has had to deal with being raised by her dad with almost no interaction with a mother. We have both displayed resilience over the past few years in enduring the situation and carrying on our daily lives, including a culture shock of sorts during the first year or so being in a different country."
What materials did you use to make your square?
Colored pencils
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"I painted my parents who make me grow stronger every day to become successful in life. They work very hard despite the danger/fear they are facing every day as immigrants. I used cardboard figures with watering cans watering my roots to represent my parents doing everything that they can to educate and love me. My parents are the motors of my life and my inspiration to be someone in this world. I also painted a sunrise on the background to show that my parents have been there with me from the first day that I was born. My parents are my strength and my everything. "
UGA Faculty
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UGA Faculty
"Every fall, millions of monarchs in eastern North America head out on an epic journey that takes them from meadows and prairies of Canada and the US, all the way to winter sanctuaries in the mountains of Mexico. These tiny insects symbolize resilience: they weigh only half a gram and travel across an entire continent – covering thousands of miles - in a matter of weeks. It’s hard to imagine the challenges they face along the way, and how they make this journey. The monarchs that migrate each fall have never made the journey before, and yet they find their way to the same forests that their ancestors traveled to several generations ago. The migration of monarchs is one of the last of the earth’s greatest migrations. Many of the great planetary migrations of birds, bison, salmon, and sea turtles, have either vanished or are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, hunting, pesticides, and barriers to movement. Their losses change the entire ecology of ecosystems and are impossible to replace. Monarchs are declining too, but they are also resilient little insects. A single female monarch can lay up to 1000 eggs, and hatching eggs become adult butterflies in just under a month. Monarch numbers have rebounded in the past, and they can do it again if we give them a chance. These butterflies connect people and habitats in three different countries, and capture the imagination of writers, filmmakers, artists and scientists. For so many of us, monarchs are a connection to nature that began when we were children, and our actions to protect them now will let generations to come to make this same connection."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"I created a fist out of cardboard and placed rocks around it to represent the strength and resilience of black people. The rocks represent the constant obstacles we have faced as black Americans and the fist represents how we fight those struggles. Time and time again, we have had to hang in there and fight to make it even though the odds are against us. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents resilience in the marching band."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the beach. It is peaceful. My mom never gives up on me or my family. She had hip surgery and she never gave up fight the pain. She always told me the right thing to do and told me never give up on life. The word resilience means a lot to my mom."
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"The sheet music is by famous composer, Antonio Vivaldi, concerto in A minor, and his more known piece, Spring. Niccolo Pagenini, despite having a severe illness which caused him to have spider-like limbs, still became one of the best composers of violin of all time. He was resilient."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about my circle of friends."
Athens, GA Community
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is symbolizing that my friends and family keep me resilient. I had a goal to break 16:45 in the 5K. Halfway through the season I twisted my ankle and could not run for a while. My family pushed me to work hard when I came back and my teammates motivated me to obtain my goal. I think the refugee replacement camps are evidence of resilience. People who have suffered major adversities are still able to set up homes and live even though they are in a new environment."
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about people that encompass ESP and make it such a joyous, supporting place. Watching people smile, laugh and have fun even when faced with dire situations is an inspiring event. ESP encompasses all kinds of resilience!!"
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes resilience in music. Musicians can't just abandon a new piece because they made mistakes playing it for the first time. They have to be resilient, recover from the difficulties and keep working on it until it sounds good. When I think of personal resilience, I think of Martin Luther King Jr. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Sometimes I just sit on the couch and don't think about anything... like I'm in space. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
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Dirtbiking helps keep my mind off of things when I'm in a bad mood.
Athens, GA Community
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"I'm currently going through an ACL tear recovery to get back to soccer. My coach has been a great example of resilience."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents how life continues and how the bad times are just one stop along the way. Women are resilient. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about my show goat that brings me so much joy. It symbolizes how we should be thankful for what we have and not focus on what we don't have."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about food and my friends' favorite foods. Not only does food give you energy but it symbolizes a hunger to do more in the world. "
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"The square is about my truck; it symbolizes a piece of art. My friend's truck blew"
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"The branches come back to the same trunk. Praying to God helps me to be resilient."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Fatih can carry you through call aspects of life. Having faith in whatever you do will hep you get through all obstacles and reach your goal. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"The Ford logo symbolizes getting from Point A to Point B. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes my faith and how keeping my faith in Jesus has allowed me to be resilient. He has helped me overcome certain adversities, bit and small. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes how I show resilience through my favorite clothing."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about music. Music is my escape from though circumstances, and it helps me focus on a solution and the positive outcomes that may come from my adversity. To me, music is a symbol of resiliency. My good friend Jacob is an example of personal resilience. Within one semester, he lost a leadership position and was injured and was told he may never be able to run again. Those were two of the biggest things in his life -- he was trying to be recruited to run cross country in college. He felt alone, frustrated, and at a loss for a future plan, yet he never stopped loving others. He changed his mindset and fought. Now he travels all over to make speeches. He has been told by many universities that they are watching him after he healed up. He was resilient and it paid off and made him 100% stronger than he was. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the people that impact my life. My mom is an amazing woman who works hard. She has been a teacher for 14+ years and works hard for her students over the summer. I lost my grandma and it was really hard on my mom. But, my mom took the heartbreaking experience and became stronger. She works ten times harder now. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes my truck because I have seen through so much with that truck. Resilience is what gets you through rough times. When I listen to music, it gets my mind off of everything. I concentrate on the lyrics. My mom is a person who reminds me of resilience. When my brother passed away, she pushed through by paying more attention to me and my siblings."
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Oconee County Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes that life is not perfect. When I play football, I get tired so I challenge myself to push through the workout. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is a painting of the night sky. To me, I always feel like I can let go and relax because a new day is about to start soon. I usually do all my thinking and wondering at night and feel at ease when I go outside and just look up at the stars and the moon. My father is an example of personal resilience. Of all the children in his family, he was the only one that was able to complete high school and go on to college. He said there were times he wanted to give up due to the necessary responsibilities he had outside school, like taking care of the family farm, his younger siblings, and working. But he never let those things and other things get in his way to get his education. He has and still is bouncing back from old problems to figure out a new way or to continue on with what he is doing. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the relationships I have made with people through music and how much they have helped me persevere through difficult times. The author of The Glass Castle, Jeanette Wells, is a great example of personal resilience. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about my relationship with the Lord. To me, resilience is when you keep away from things that are bad or upsetting. I didn't make my square perfect -- the paint is all mixed up and overlapping. Because God didn't make us perfect, we are all gonna mess up and fail sometimes, but it's all part of God's plan. Also, my grandma helps me get through everything too."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about women fighting for their rights despite how hard it was. My mom is a great example of personal resilience - she keeps going even when things get hard."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"When I am with my horse, all of my problems go away... When I'm riding my horse, galloping through the fields and the pastures, all of my problems aren't visible at that moment. With the wind blowing in my hair and feeling my horse under me and galloping together, I feel like I can get through anything. To me, this is resilience. My family has shown great resilience with our financial situation. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents taking one thing at a time. Creating lists is one way that I stay on track and not overwhelmed. This is a recreation of my bulletin board at home that I use to be organized even though I'm really not. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square focuses on flowers because they bloom, and when they bloom they become bigger and more beautiful. This inspires me to keep going when I think my life is horrible, because I know one day it will be beautiful. "
Outside of Athens, GA
"With the current climate being so volatile and polarizing, it's important to make sure that certain thoughts are not allowed to penetrate your heart. As a person thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7). Keeping derogatory remarks of others, thoughts within our own minds and systems or establishments from taking hold of what we believe about ourselves is vital to living a healthy (mentally and physically) and prosperous life."
What materials did you use to make your square?
Polymer clay, thumbtacks and transparency paper
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Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square is about resilience. JK Rowling was struggling to get by a few years before she published Harry Potter. She kept going and was very successful. I think trees are a great symbol of resilience in nature."
UGA Staff
"My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for 3 years. This is our embryo we created through IVF. Even though we lost this baby we will continue to try to have a baby."
What materials did you use to make your square?
Paint, tape, paper, a syringe (removed needle for safety)
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about happiness being connected to misery. The sunset represents happiness, and the hospital room is misery. The hospital room is there because I have had two complete knee reconstructions. It wasn't a positive point in my life. Resilience to me is pushing through the hardships in life. Sometimes when things get hard, people give up. The point of resilience is to get through that and come out stronger. If you let all the little things get to you, you'll never be happy. An example of someone who shows resilience is my mom. She has (*a degenerative disease) and it's very hard for her to do simple tasks. She is medicine that makes her very tired. She still pushes through life. She helps other when they need it and rarely complains. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience to me is when you find something to take your mind off of other things. For example, when I am with family, I don't worry about anything else besides what is happening right now. My square is about how family and music resemble resilience."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"This square has been beaten and bruised. But despite being torn apart again and again, it has been patched up and held together. Resilient people are the same way. Despite all the hurt they've suffered, they are able to pick themselves up and keep on walking. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how cats help me be resilient. My mom is a resilient person I know. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My mom and I used to say "I love you" to each other in sign language when I was younger, so the symbol reminds me of my family and how they are there for me. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes the calmness and beauty in the simple things, which allow us to see the good in tough situations. "
Website for reference
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how music got me through tough times and how my favorite rapper died. My parents have been resilient. They had financial challenges and looked sad when I was young. My family never gave up, they kept fighting for improvement, saving up, starting a business, investing and then they changed their credit record. They did not give up and worked hard and pushed through. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about faith and symbolizes the immense love and compassion I receive from God because He is my resilience by the power and determination He puts in me. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about what keeps me resilient, which is support. The words are from my therapist and the signatures on the four sides of the square are from my core four, the ones who have been with me since the start. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents how I grew up as a military child and had to move all the time but was able to adapt to the new changes/environment and that has made me more well-rounded overall."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about rebirth, in a sense. It refers to the song, "Truce" by Twenty-One Pilots. A sunrise is the mark of your side of the planet starting over -- who am I to refuse the fluidity of natural change in my own life? Tyler says it far more eloquently than I can, " The sun will rise and we will try again. You will die, but now your life is free. Take pride in what is sure to die." "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes life. Tyler Perry is an example of resilience because they attempted suicide twice, but failed, and became a director and actor. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes how music helps me overcome any obstacle that I come across in my life. The music is cut up to show how music can help me in many situations such as stress and school. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about tennis and it is hitting the net but you have to aim high to reach your goal. I play tennis to get through the rough times and it keeps my mind off of stuff. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes how laughter and talking to someone about a problem helps me feel better about it, usually helping me feel less sad or angry. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the various things I do to deal with/embrace change. Every different piece describes and symbolizes something I do when in difficult situations, like sports, writing, travel, etc. Everything I do leads me to a solution. A great example of resilience is cell regeneration. My grandmother is a great example of resilience too. She dealt with breast cancer, the loss of her mother, the loss of her sister, and health problems with my grandpa. She turned her adversities over and came back stronger. She decided to treat others and herself with respect and kindness through hardship! "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square has a track shoe with wings. It symbolizes trying to do better after not making the height or place that you wanted during a track meet. I think Democracy is resilient. "J" is resilient because she lost both parents to crime and drugs but has an inner strength and remains positive and centered."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes how much coffee motivates me to go to class on my hard days and do the work I need to do on my long day. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square pays homage to my kitty small cat. It also is conveying the message that it is okay to stand out and be blue instead of blending in and changing aspects of yourself for others."
Website for reference
Athens, GA Community
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"This summer I moved from a place I had lived since I was 6 years old. 10 years is a long time for a person. You can learn a lot about yourself in 10 years, especially between the ages of 6-16. Now, in this new environment, I've had to reestablish myself and re-peel my layers back. NYC after 9/11 is a perfect example of resilience. The way the city and nation rose up after that tragedy was beautiful. My grandma is an example of personal resilience. She grew up poor in a village in Kumasi, Ghana. Her family could barely afford for her to go to school. Regardless of these obstacles, she had a deadly combination: she was smart and she was driven. She saved up enough money to not only go to America, but start her own sewing business in the 1960s and it is still in business to this day!"
Oconee County Schools K-12
"A peaceful countryside is an isolated, serene garden. Trees are naturally resilient creations. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The sponge symbolizes soaking up your surroundings and retaining knowledge. Nelson Mandela is an example of resilience because no matter what was thrown his way, he learned and came back stronger."
Website for reference
"Taylor Swift's music helps me overcome my difficulties. My square is about when I listened to music in the car with my mom when I was little. Also, my brother was diagnosed with a disease and he is an example of resilience because he turned out ok. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about a truck, and if I get sad, I just drive. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how I respond to my problems. My version of resilience involves writing. When I am faced with a problem, I typically write about it or say a prayer about it. This method helps calm me down and prevents saying something I may regret."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The CD shards represent music. The girl at the bottom is dancing to the music, and the pink squiggles and purple exclamation points come out of her through this. Music helps me get through a lot in life, and dancing to it helps put me in a better mood. The faces around the block represent the emotion music helps me express. My cousin, Sydney, is an inspiration to me and has modeled resilience and helped to shape aspects of my own resilience."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes how an entire community represents resilience by coming together to solve a problem. The Civil Rights movement is an example of resilience because they had to overcome discrimination and get their rights, which they should have had in the first place. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about mint oreo milkshakes. I would fix my problems by having one. My grandmother is an example of resilience. She she had to battle breast cancer and power through. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience is taking blows to your emotions but growing thicker skin and moving on. The nails represent problems and the hot glue represents thick skin and dealing with your problems the nails covered up. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The Triquetra is a Celtic symbol that represents many different significant trinities to many different people. For me, it represents EARTH, WIND, and FIRE. Resilience is recovering from your losses. I feel that it's much easier to bounce back when you are in touch with all aspects of yourself-- represented by the primitive elemental significance of earth, wind, and fire. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience is the constant fight for better. My square is about all the people and items and words that have greatly impacted my life in a positive way. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience is staying strong. I used the insides of my pillow to make my square. My square symbolizes remembering you woke up today for a reason. It motivates me."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about my outlet, which is music."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is a collage of my past, present, and future experiences. The pictures of me from the Past symbolize some of the happiest and most meaningful times I have had in my life. The Present is represented by the numerous quotes scattered over the box, which have the purpose of encouraging my present life. The Future is represented by the miscellaneous pictures which show an object, but not in enough detail to discern their meaning, which is similar to the uncertain future. The Past, Present, and Future collectively symbolize resilience to me. Knowing that I have had some of the best moments in my past encourages me that those kinds of moments will happen in the Present or Future. Along with the Past, the Present provides a great opportunity and motivation for me to continue to live for those moments. The uncertain future, whether it is good or bad, holds a promise of good times. My definition of resilience is the fast that we can look into the past to learn, the present to improve, and the future -- which holds a promise of prosperity. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"**Comment from Imagination Squared: This is the inside of Joanna's square. The outside is represented in another part of the project grid. This part was important to share...."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how everyone's hand is different in life. Some hands are better than others. The playing cards (on the inside of the square) represent different hands. Resilience is taking the hand you're given and making the most of it no matter the struggles. The ribbon represents my younger sister and the birth defect she has, and the spoon represents my older sister's chronic condition. "Resilience is like climbing a mountain with no trail map. It takes time, strength, and help from people around you, and you'll likely experience setbacks along the way. Eventually you will reach the top and look back at how far you've come." - Katie Hurley I burned the word FAMILY into all sides of the square. Family plays a major role in resilience. My older sister began having health problems her senior year so severe that she missed half the spring semester. Even with missing a lot of classes, she graduated in the top 5 of her class. Now she is in college and is doing extremely well. My younger sister has a birth defect and numerous health problems. She has spent her whole life in a wheelchair, and yet she is the happiest and most joyful person I know. Yes she has challenges, but she chooses to persevere and keep going. Neither sister lets their health issues define them. Their ability to press on no matter what, influences me. If they can do it, then I can. We all push each other, and that is how we succeed. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about entering the gates of heaven and being ready to meet God. In life (the tree of life on the left side of the square)we push on to be our best so that when it's our time, we can accept our fate with happiness for what we did in our lifetime. Unlike the eternal flame (viewed on the right side of the square), life is short and we must do what we can to live gloriously. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how music can brighten my mood and help me. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents how the nighttime, when I'm able to rest and explore the world through my dreams, has made me resilient. If it wasn't for the dream-filled moments, I wouldn't be nearly as resilient as I am now. My mom is a resilient person. Through everything she's been through, even the things I don't know about, she continues to be a thoughtful and kind-hearted person that's not jaded by the struggles of life. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the process of resilience. Resilient people get up and solve their problems. But before they go solve their problem, they must tie their shoes. My square symbolizes the first step you must take in order to face your adversity. Resilient people don't care if they fail because they will keep working until they accomplish their goals. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is all about keeping it simple. It symbolizes simplicity by not having anything to speak on how you must only keep essential things in your life, and concentrate your energy on these things. Resilience about keeping your head up and your feet moving. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"This square symbolizes support. Resilience is the love and support I receive from others. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is a painting of a wrestling shoe. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents all fo the bad habits that you need to cut off in your life in order to get your desired results. The scissors symbolize the steps and actions you can take to stop those habits and start fresh."
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes quiet and solitude. I get depressed, but I keep going! "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square showcases a Jose Harris quote that says, "Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living." I have a magnet with this quote on my bedside table. Whenever I'm going through a difficult time, I look at the quote and remind myself to keep trying. Resilience is learning to grow from adversity. It's not letting your failures define you. Resilience can lead to great success. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about the block staying together even after being split in half. This symbolizes myself during a dark part of my life - and not giving up."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about finding your place or niche in life. I represented the friends and family in my life who support me and help me be resilient. My mom is an example of personal resilience in my life. When I was little, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now recovered and is living well and isn't suffering from major medical problems. Her strength encourages me to be resilient. I couldn't imagine going through the hardships she has. Sleeping and being in a quiet room is also a kind of resilience. I can recharge and be ready for the next day and not hang onto the troubles of yesterday. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes the tough time I went through as a child, having no father for years. The person I think of as resilient is my mother. She has never given up on anything because she always tells herself that she is strong and can get through it. Everything isn't all good but my mom has the best mindset on getting past hard times."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The puzzle pieces symbolizes the adversity that one may go through and the tissues are to show that to be resilient, it's good to cry or show emotions to then pick yourself up back up again. The birds create a sense of thriving and flying high! "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square has objects that relate to music. "
UGA Staff
Oconee County Schools K-12
"In honor of chickfila, I drew lemons being squeezed into lemonade. Lemons symbolize the bad breaks and situations and the lemonade is all the good things I turned them into. In October 2019, I was at Athens Academy playing varsity football. I got blindsided by two seniors and my world went blank. I had suffered a massive traumatic brain injury. I slept 20 hours a day for 6 weeks and was unable to go to school for 4 months. I was forced to transfer to North Oconee High, which has been the best decision of my life. I am in clubs, classes I enjoy, and have lots of friends in the short time I have been here. I have just finished recovering, as it has been 15 months since my injury. Resilience for me is about bouncing back and making the best of any situation you find yourself in. "
Website for reference
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square shows how I deal with resistance. The black and white child represents me as a child, before I encountered any resistance. The carving of little me is deeper and smoother. The rainbow woman is the me I'm growing to be. This carving is less deep as wisdom has filled it. There are grooves in it that symbolize the trials that she has gone through and the rainbows symbolize how much she's grown. I have a mentor named Julia and she is resilient! She had such a hard childhood but has used it to help to many people with her same circumstances, including me. She's such a strong woman who I look up to. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"No matter what you do to a problem, all you have to do is resist it. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how when I am with pigs, nothing matters but bond between me and the pig. (** The following story was edited by Imagination Squared for privacy and anonymity). My best friend is the best example of resilience. She's had a really tough time in high school because her mom is mentally ill. I remember every day going down to the barn at our school and she was always there and trying her best to make her mother proud. When she got a car, she moved in with her dad, but her mother got even worse. I remember going to all her shows and all she wanted was for her mother to be there and be proud. Throughout time her mother and her grew further apart. When she got ready to go to college, she shut her mom out because she was at a braking point from her mama not caring or showing up. So now, she turned to me and my mom to help. When she wants a mom, she comes to my mom, and when she wants to go out, she'll come and get me as her "little sis". Her dad was there for her every step of the way trying to keep food on the table or keep the bills paid. I remember she got a job so her dad didn't have to do it alone. I remember how much she cried wanting her mama to be more supportive. Now, she's in college and better than ever, happy most of the time, and coming home to see us with her big smile and making great new memories. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The game pieces and cards symbolize games that you can play to get away from the world for a while. The bouncy balls symbolize the energy you put in when you reengage. The marbles represent going with the flow. The blue and red represent good and bad times - winning or losing the game. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience to me is different that being "numb". Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fail again. But if you keep going, you heal. My mom helps me respond well to challenges and setbacks. She helps me better understand myself and become more confident. My square has a dead rose that represents hurt. And another living rose that represents healing. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"I have an odd fear of butterflies. Most people find them beautiful. Sometimes in life things can happen that can be scary and will make you scare for the future but sometimes they can turn into something beautiful. Sometimes you have to face your fears in order to find joy and happiness and that will make you stronger. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square represents me listening to music as a coping mechanism. The lyrics written are some that resonate with me. I'm proud of some of my friends who struggle with mental illness and still wake up every day and persevere."
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square makes reference to the bible. The red represents Jesus, the blue represents spirit, the white along the sides represents purity, the black represents sin, and the yellow represents eternal life. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"The silica gel balls represent the fact that to be resilient, I absorb everything that is bad and ignore it to cope. I preserve the support from my friends, which is the signatures below the silica balls. I used black and white to represent the highs and lows of life. "
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"Resilience is the ability to bounce back. Reading does that for me. I'm proud of my dad for being resilient after job troubles."
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how friends and family help you get through tough times. They help you overcome things when it seems impossible. My mom is a great example of resilience because she was able to move to America and make a life for herself and our family. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"An ocean represents resilience. It's able to adapt and go with the flow in hard times. My art teacher is an awesome example of resilience too. She's gone through so much this year and she still comes to work every day smiling and supporting her students. "
Website for reference
Athens, GA Community
"Hope Haven believes in the uniqueness, worth, dignity, and right to self-determination of every individual. We strive to prepare, empower, and support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the community. Resilience is what we are, what we do, what we teach. "
UGA Graduate Student
"I titled the piece the hive because I thought about the community resilience of bees, a resilience that is constructed collectively, as a community. I am always fascinated by how individual shapes may be fragile but they become strong and resilient if you put them together. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My piece shows resilience because it depicts a mindset of mine (albeit in a literal sense): enjoy the little things. ‘Little things’ aren’t limited to being physical. They are objects, moments, or memories that bring joy, despite possibly being seen as insignificant to others. I’m not sure when I gained this mindset, but continue to believe in it because it is better to find joy in small things and moments than to let yourself become lost in the negativity that always seems to be around in this day and age. "
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about being lost in a pit of despair. With the help of a friend, people can escape the anguish. It symbolizes being in a dark tunnel but following the entrance of light brought by friends. "
Website for reference
UGA Staff
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Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square symbolizes the need for reflection in life, and how meditation/mindfulness is a great way to do that. Resilience to me is getting back up when you're down and looking on the bright side. My friend Payton is resilient because she has gotten through so much. She always gets back up. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about switching from a private school to a public school and it unlocked at lot for me. Resilience is persisting and bouncing back when something is hard. I think of Robert Downey Jr.'s career as an example of resilience. He came back after overcoming drug addiction. Our immune systems are resilient because it pushes back when attacked. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"Music helps me. I was resilient when my dog died. My mom was so resilient when her dad died and because I admired the way she handled that, she showed me how to be resilient. Resilience is the ability to recover from something difficult quickly. I remember the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester where a bomb went off. She fell into depression. She eventually performed again, which was evidence of her resilience. The fans showed up too. "
Website for reference
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about how swim team taught me how to be resilient. I keep going even when things are challenging. It has allowed me to set goals and be more organized."
Oconee County Schools K-12
"My square is about soccer. It symbolizes how I get rid of my stress. When I'm stressed I go play soccer and feel better. Resilience is when you recover from something difficult. My dad is an example of personal resilience because he has overcome several deaths of people close to him. He stayed strong for everyone. California is an example of resilience because the rebuilding of everything that is burned in recent fires. "
UGA Undergraduate Student
"The storm of chaos hits us and there is no way to prepare. That being said, there is this inner self that is always prepared. This inner monster can achieve everything because it has achieved everything. How can you summon this demon? There is no method, because methods are by their very nature mechanical and not human. To become human by a method is impossible. Until death we are "helplessly human"; but, to be human is a gift! Our method mind tries to keep up with the infinite temple(our body). This temple is the corridor to the garden of the universe. In order to enter the garden, we must leave our minds behind and become whole again. This is the gift that death brings us and we will only willingly accept it when we finish our mission (mischief) on this planet. Life and death are a gift from us to us, our feeble minds. Bless the mind!"
Website for reference
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This audio submission is meant to represent the music of the darkness while a voice whispers to you not to give up. I fight my inner demons every day and survive. I may not always win, but I haven't lost yet."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I chose to sing this hymn because it encourages me so much to know that, even in uncertain and hard times, my Hope is found in Christ. The words "He is my Light, my Strength, my Song" really resounds on the theme of resilience to me, which is persevering through hardships and becoming stronger because of them."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"My Sound Square is meant to depict a morning or daily routine. The sounds heard (pill bottle, drawer, sink, traffic, oven) are all intended to resonate with the feeling of a rigid and probably stressful schedule. The resilience part comes out of the combination of these sounds coming together to form a groove over which a cello and scattered sighs of boredom or frustration turn the routine into a piece of music. The idea here is that there can be more in the repetition to any person's routine than just monotonous actions. When I have felt this way in the past, I have turned to music. The audio ends with the music lingering past the sound effects and a peaceful deep breathe."
UGA Undergraduate Student
""when this is over" is a poem about the COVID-19 outbreak. It speaks of civilization going back to normal and being even better than it was before. It references communities staying strong through the crisis and growing together."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I see the resilience of music in all things around us, regardless of an objects purpose. Music lives and breathes in all parts of our world, whether it is the rhythm of a turn signal or a multi-million dollar violin, music exists within it. I wrote this music using an economy of resources, totaling $50 excluding production gear. Especially in times of quarantine, I found myself to be reanalyzing the purpose of everything around me. Instead of asking what an instrument can do for me, I asked what can music do for these objects. This also led me to be resilient in my own compositional approach. In regards to the product, I can't be sure why it came out as a pseudo-electronic dance tune, I can only be sure of the intention behind the composition, and the resilience of myself and music in general."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I find a certain peace and calm in nature. It's reassuring to know that I can always step outside at night and listen to the cicadas, or feel the breeze on my skin. This evokes a feeling of resilience in my mind; regardless of what I am feeling or where I am, nature and everything associated with it will always be there for me to experience."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"My mom is perhaps the most resilient person I know. She grew up in Ghana, but wanted a better life and decided to move to the United States. She faced many hardships, including discrimination, especially due to her background and accent. Despite this, she remained strong. This recording is a response to the question, "How did you persevere through this discrimination?"(This conversation took place in the context of her job as a nurse). My mother is an inspiration for me to not only stay true to myself, but to remain strong in situations where I may be judged and discriminated against."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"This is a portion of an interview with my mom, a pediatrician in private practice, as her practice stares down the barrel of the coronavirus pandemic. She discusses the ongoing challenge to obtain personal protective equipment (as many private practices not associated with hospitals, hers included, cannot even obtain masks or gloves), as well as how they determined who had the highest risk of serious infection and whose deaths would be most detrimental to the continuation of their families. In this terrifying time for the nation and the world, it is truly incredible to see how calmly people who have what is not otherwise considered a terribly high-risk job adapt in the face of a very dangerous medical crisis, yet they continue to do everything possible to serve all members of the community."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"My audio is compiled messages I've received from my mother over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The messages are being read by Siri to convey the coldness and isolation being felt by many during this unprecedented time. For me, it is relationships like these that allow me to find resilience in myself."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I saw this quote on Instagram a few weeks ago and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s so so relevant to what is going on in the world right now. This message needs to be heard."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Resilience reflects willpower in any struggle. This sound clip is what I came up with when thinking about the tune of a hero's trial."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"The title of this song is Patience. Written by The Lumineers and found on their album "Cleopatra", this simple piano song is only 1:38 long. However, its simplicity and gentleness always reminds me that during tough times, sometimes the best way to be resilient is to be patient. During this COVID-19 lockdown, I find myself playing this song more and more to remind myself to relax and be patient"
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I am a big fan of the show Steven Universe and this song is one of my favorites. It's a song meant to represent the need of young people to change and adapt as they take on the task of discovering who they are. Nothing was harder for me than having to figure out who I was suppose to be. I have found that instead of trying to be something, it is a lot easier to just be adaptable and resilient. Life loves to pull the rug out from under you and the best attribute you can possess is the ability to stand up and keep moving forward, even if that means you have to change."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"I chose train horns and the sound of trains because they embody resilience perfectly. Ever since Richard Trevithick invented the first train in 1804, trains have moved items across the country no matter the day of the week, weather condition, or hour of the day."
UGA Undergraduate Student
"Resilience to me means being able to adapt to adversity while standing strong and staying true to yourself. I am a double bass performance major who knew almost nothing of the professional music world going into my degree. I was immersed in a world of composers and their symphonies, solo repertoire and so many styles of music I didn’t know existed. Pedagogically I had to relearn my instrument. It has been a rewarding yet highly intimidating journey thus far, one with many ups and downs. For my recording I have started and ended with a walking bass line, a new style I am learning. I have also included excerpts of pieces from gigs and experiences that have taught me important lessons of resilience that have helped mold my journey. (Brahms 2, Mahler 1, Mozart overture)"
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"Even when your getting beaten up by the thoughts in your head there is usually a place, person, or a thing that you can go to to get your mind away from the stresses of the day or the week. My piece portrays that because when I look at myself in the mirror, with my bloodshot eyes from all the crying, I find a way to escape everything. When I look into my girlfriend’s eyes I always get lost and I start to feel better. The square of wood has marks on it and nails all around the square going into it to show the pain. This portrays resilience because, even when I’m feeling terrible I find myself lost in my girlfriend’s eyes that create a more perfect world for me. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My art shows resilience through many factors. These activities which are shown help me get through tough times. Playing soccer helps me release my stress and just enjoy the moment. I also listen to music to relax me and give me motivation. Art is a way which I release emotions and everything that’s on my mind without speaking them and it’s a great way to keep me concentrated on something better than my problems. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square shows resilience through the symbolism I used. This square represents the division of my life through a border that divides both my nationalities.The bridge represents the border that divides United States from Mexico and the sunset represents that no matter how far we are from each other, mi familia and I see the same sunset.That's what keeps me going knowing that I have a familia that's been through a lot and can still be so strong."
"My square represents resilience because I use football and music to get me through things. Music helps me see the world in a different perspective. It puts me in a zone and calms me down. I showed this through the blue color on the music note.. The pain and time I spend playing football and the fire I have when I put on my jersey is represented by the dents and firey colors. Football has taught me how to deal with obstacles and to keep going, even when things hurt. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My art shows resilience because even when I’m drowning I find something to hold on to to keep me going. The anchor represents the “ something” I hold on to. It is symbolic of hope. I tried to make the water a darker color to make it look like she is drowning in harsh water. This represents going through a struggle. However, even though she was in danger of drowning, she keeps her head up. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My piece shows resilience by showing that when I’m with my siblings my stress flows away. The black corner representing negativity and my struggles. The water is flowing towards it to show how spending time with my siblings overpowers the negativity. The clock has no hands to represent losing track of time. When we are busy laughing and enjoying time together, time fades away and so does all of our stress and worry. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My work shows resilience, because basketball is my favorite sport and I take advantage of this when I feel upset. When I do feel upset I go outside and play around on the basketball court and it makes me feel better afterwards. It’s something that really just helps when I have been through a lot of stuff. "
Athens, GA Community
"(There are lights on the sides of this square and if you turn the crank, they come on! )"
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square shows resilience through happiness. The spackling I used is to refer to all the negativity and problems I may have. Inside I sculpted two smiling faces one to represent me and one for my brother. The background I painted with a mix of colors to express strength, since all the colors mixed well together and even though they are different they come together beautifully. When I am sad or in a difficult situation, me and my brother result to joking around about the given subject which gives me confidence to overcome it."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"Everybody has their getaway, their escape, something that takes their mind off of things for a while. For some it’s their significant other, or maybe movies and tv shows, or it could simply just going for a jog, and mine just happens to be cars and mechanics. I love seeing cars or watching videos about them, and working on them is even more fun. In addition, I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder which I represented as a deep, dark, misty forest.The silhouette represents me walking through this misty forest using my interest in car mechanics to find my way out. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My imagination square shows resilience through my niece. My niece Giannah, is literally my heart. Every since my sister told me she was pregnant with her, I knew that we were gonna be close. She’s so sweet and spoiled, if i’m feeling irritated and I go around her it makes me back happy. Of course I made the background pink and glitter because she’s such a girly girl. I also used this quote I ran across of on the internet “And suddenly you were my everything” because suddenly Giannah did become my everything. She motivates me to be a good person for her to look up to and she makes me want to succeed in life more to be able to provide lots of things for her. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My imagination square shows resilience by showing what I love when I am feeling beat down from the way life work. I use music and nature to keep me grounded and to remind me that I can always try again the next day. I think the best way to show resilience is to do something that makes you happy and I showed that by putting things on my square that made me happy; Nature and Music. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"I’m representing resilience in my art by showing the warmth and the comfort I receive from my dog and by depicting the peaceful night sky. My dog is my best friend and her name is Roxie. When I’m feeling sad I can go to her and I know she will cheer me up since she’s always happy to see me. The energy she flows to me changes my emotions. The sky and the moon that surround the dog in my work represent how I love looking at the stars and the infinite sky. When I gaze at the beautiful night sky, I can lose myself, and all of my worries and problems fade away."
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My square represents resilience because I like to sleep when life gets too challenging. I love listening to music too because it helps me escape my problems and often soothes me to sleep. I always feel better and stronger after getting some good rest, and then I can take on whatever challenge is set before me. "
Clarke County Public Schools K-12
"My imagination square shows resilience because I painted my parents who make me grow stronger everyday to become successful in life. They work very hard despite the danger/fear they are facing everyday as immigrants. I used cardboard figures with watering cans watering my roots to represent my parents doing everything that they can to educate and love me. My parents are the motors of my life and my inspiration to be someone in this world. I also painted a sunrise on the background to show that my parents have been there with me from the first day that I was born. My parents are my strength and my everything. "
UGA Staff
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UGA Staff
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Outside of Athens, GA
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Athens, GA Community
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UGA Graduate Student
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