By Navah and Jess, East Norriton Bulldog Bulletin | You probably have already overcome many challenges in your lifetime. Overcoming challenges is a very important skill. It’s called resilience.

Resilience, according to the American Psychological Association, is “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”

East Norriton teachers say they use resilience to get through tough times.

Mrs. Rothfeld, a seventh-grade science and social studies teacher, said she relies on her friends and family to help her be resilient. “Find someone you can trust and talk to,” she said.

Mrs. Rothfeld also says it is important not to hold in your feelings. Share how you feel so anxiety doesn’t build up, she said.

Mrs. Brewster, an art teacher, said “the more resilient you are, the more valuable you will be to your community.”

She said she has a few strategies to help her be resilient. She said she tries to be patient when she is frustrated and breaks bigger tasks into smaller tasks.

Like Mrs. Rothfeld, Mrs. Gates, a special education teacher, said talking with friends and family is important to help you bounce back from challenges. She also said “taking a minute to just think can help.”

The American Psychological Association says resilience is important because it can help you overcome different challenges. But more importantly, it helps you adapt in life, to further your self-esteem, and give yourself strength. Resilience is used when overcoming fears, experiencing a loss, and any change, according to the psychological association.

So how can you as students be more resilient? Mrs. Brewster said, “Remind yourself that you won’t always get things right away and there is nothing wrong with asking for help.”

Illustration by Naveah, La Salle Academy Health News.