Resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a difficult situation and to recover quickly from it. For leaders, resilience is key since difficult situations arise on a regular basis, both in our personal or professional lives. And, if I learned something from Homeward Bound, it is to be resilient.
This last year has been one of the most difficult times I had to face in my personal and family life. I’ve touched rock bottom in many aspects, but the main goal that kept me going and getting out of bed every morning, was the feeling and strong belief that I was doing something for the greater good.
Resilience requires a lot of personal strength, but the support of our community makes us even stronger. The Homeward Bound community played a huge role in this moment of my life; knowing that my sisters were there for me, to hold my hand in difficult times, made me stronger than ever and brought up leadership skills I didn’t know I had.
Several factors develop and sustain a person’s resilience, such as making plans and following through with them, having confidence in one’s strengths and abilities, communicating effectively, solving problems, and focusing on positive emotions. Positive emotions serve an important function in one’s ability to recover from difficult situations, and having a network that supports you through that process, is invaluable.
These difficult times taught me not only how to be more resilient, but also made me a better and braver leader. I was able to take my leadership to the next level by putting myself in the spotlight and owning my place as a science communicator.
Now, I’m taking my place as part of a group of 100 incredible women from all over the world, who will undergo an intensive, capacity-building program that culminates in a life-changing voyage to Antarctica. It’s time for all of us to take our places and let our voices be heard.
By Evguenia Alechine, PhD
Homeward Bound Cohort 4
