23 Jun Resilience, New Friends & a Library Full of Heart
I’m writing this with the biggest smile on my face and the fullest heart. Tuesday’s “Resilience Workshop” at the Aurora Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library was… Wow. Just wow! If you were there, you know what I mean. And, if you weren’t, this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who helped make it unforgettable.
First, to the incredible group of tweens and teens who showed up with open minds and big hearts, you are resilient. Whether you wrote, shared, drew, sat quietly and reflected, or just came to listen, you inspired me. You reminded me that resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. And, you’re already building it.
We talked about the tough stuff… About living with invisible challenges like T1D. About stress, anxiety, loss, and change. But, then, we also talked about what keeps us grounded—family, faith, music, art, nature, movies, friendship—and how these things are anchors. I saw you connecting, laughing, getting honest, and even discovering that some of you love the same things.
One of the coolest things? Watching you build your own resilience plans. Your ideas were creative, brave, and personal. Some of you drew comics; some of you journaled; and some of you wrote quietly and didn’t share out loud. (But, trust me, your words still matter.) One person said, “This is like making a game plan for when life gets weird.” Yes, exactly that.
To the parents who joined us, including mine as well as my Nana, thank you for your honesty and presence. Your perspectives brought so much value to our conversations. I felt like we were all sitting around one big table, learning from each other. Your families showed up fully and bravely.
To the amazing librarians—LeighAnn Self and Janae Coker—thank you for doing what librarians do best: making room for connection, creativity, and community. You didn’t just organize an event, you created a space where young people felt seen and supported. Thank you for cheering me on and making everyone feel at home.
And Aurora, thank you for being the kind of town where a teenager with type one diabetes (T1D), can walk into a library, share her story, and walk out with new friends. I’m carrying your kindness with me wherever I go next.
We talked about how resilience is like a muscle. You don’t need to be strong all the time, but you can keep growing. I hope everyone who was there keeps using their resilience plan, and remembers: you’re not alone, and your story matters.
So much love,
Ellie
P.S. If you’re reading this and you want to make your own resilience plan, check out the handouts we used at the workshop. They’re full of ideas and reminders that you’ve got what it takes. Keep going. Keep growing.
