The Importance of Learning Resilience
Author - Gabriel Russell - Philosophy Student at Fordham University - Honors College - Class of 2027Why Resiliency Matters Now More Than Ever
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with Mountain Goat Movement, it’s that resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. It’s not a trait reserved for the toughest or the loudest. It’s for those who refuse to quit despite the circumstance. In a world that keeps changing, sometimes faster than we can keep up with, resilience might be the most important thing we can learn.
Before I joined MGM, I thought of resilience as a form of external toughness that stifled signs of weakness. I thought that by forcing away difficulty my mind would follow. Yes, resilience is about always pushing forward. But through the experiences I’ve had in the outdoors and in community with other students, I’ve come to understand it differently. Real resilience is about staying grounded when things don’t go your way. It’s about being uncomfortable and not quitting. It’s about adjusting, adapting, and continuing, even when things feel uncertain.
Adversity is the Teacher
Many of us live in a manner that intentionally avoids discomfort. When cold, we turn up the heat. If something’s hard to watch, we click away. But out on a trail or in a tent during a thunderstorm, you don’t have that luxury. You have to figure it out. You have to rely on your team, your mindset, and your problem-solving skills. One ultimately realizes, through mud, blisters, bad weather, and missed turns, that they are more capable than they thought.
That’s what MGM is about. It’s not just some adventure travel group. It’s an organization that believes young people are stronger than they’ve been led to believe. It gives them the space to prove it to themselves. When you’re hiking for miles with a pack on your back, there’s no shortcut. Without these shortcuts, it isnt motivation that stimulates resilience, its a lack of choice. Success then becomes the motivator, spurring greater challenge for the adrenaline that comes with it.
Why It Matters
Our generation is under pressure - socially, academically, and mentally. We’re expected to perform, stay connected 24/7, and somehow always be okay. But the truth is, most of us are figuring it out as we go. And we need real experiences - physical, emotional, and challenging ones - that help us develop the inner strength to face what’s ahead.
Mountain Goat Movement is creating those experiences. It’s not about filtering life through a screen. It is about getting dirt under your nails, solving real problems, and learning what you’re made of. That’s the mission. It’s about building character, courage, and community through exploration. It is about helping students, like me, grow into people that welcome adversity, not avoid it.
Carrying It Forward
The best part is, resilience doesn’t stay on the trail. I’ve brought it into my school life, my friendships, and my mindset. I know what it feels like to struggle and make it through. I know how to respond instead of react. I know how to face a challenge, not with fear, but with confidence.
I’m still learning. We all are. But being part of MGM has taught me that resilience isn’t about being fearless, it’s about showing up, again and again, even when fear is there.
And if more young people had the chance to experience what MGM offers - not just the hikes and the gear and the views, but the chance to stretch themselves - we’d have a generation that is better prepared to handle the unexpected turmoil of our ever-changing society.
Because in the end, resilience isn’t just what gets you through a trail. It’s what gets you through everything.
