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What is Resilience?


Resilience, according to RISE,  “is the capacity to make it through expected and unexpected adversities. In the process of navigating such adversities, we may be stretched, changed, and develop new skills to enhance our lives.” In the materials industry, rubber is rated on how quickly it can bounce back from being stretched and changed. Did you know that we as humans have the same capacity to bounce back from challenges? The ability to bounce back is a critical life skill for students during the college years and beyond.

RISE seeks to build the physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, service, and life skills resilience of our students by providing them with building blocks that can be used to navigate life's difficulties.

Life will predictably have its challenges, some great, some small. We want to help students be prepared to not only "bounce back" and find equilibrium when stretched and out of balance, but also to grow stronger having successfully navigated those experiences, gaining wisdom along the way.


 

The Six Dimensions of RISE Resilience

RISE seeks to equip students with resilience skills across six different dimensions (each dimension has three core building blocks).

 
Physical
  • Engage in movement
  • Practice healthy eating
  • Prioritize sleep
 
Social
  • Make time for relationships
  • Build social skills, listen well, and start the conversation
  • Develop empathy
 
Cognitive
  • Expect challenges
  • Adopt a growth mindset
  • Change irrational/unhelpful thoughts
 
Spiritual
  • Adopt a faith perspective
  • Engage in spiritual practices
  • Join a faith community
 
Service
  • Consider your values
  • Serve in large ways
  • Serve in small ways
 
Life Skills
  • Take charge of your finances
  • Manage your time
  • Be discerning about your technology usage


 

The Resilience Landscape at Pepperdine

Life can be hard. Significant numbers of students at Pepperdine, as across the nation, are struggling with mental health concerns.

Among Seaver students, in response to the Spring 2023 administration of the National College Health Assessment Survey III:

  • 62% reported experiencing anxiety in the last 12 months
  • 57% reported feeling so sad that nothing could cheer them up in the last 30 days
  • 65% reported feeling things were hopeless in the last 30 days

Those numbers are concerning, and we are glad that many students are accessing the available support. Through the Pepperdine RISE Program, we want to add additional resources that provide students with opportunities to develop coping strategies when confronted with typical stressors and during particularly challenging circumstances; the space to share and learn from a network of peers and mentors; and the support of a diverse community that nurtures and strengthens emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental health.