So…What Does 16 Strong Mean?
There are 24 hours in a day. If you are (in an absolute perfect world) getting a full 8 hours of sleep every night, that leaves 16 hours awake each day. 16 Strong represents what it means for every individual person to get through the 16 waking hours of the day despite any adversity or challenges you may be facing at any given time. This looks different for every single person, and that's what makes it effective and exciting!! It's about finding what works best for you. It is a combination of our positive coping mechanisms, support systems and outlets. For one person it may be working out at the gym, listening to podcasts, and talking to their best friend. For another, it might be meditating, journaling and going for daily walks.
What keeps YOU 16 Strong?
16 Strong Project, The Founder’s Perspective
The 16 Strong Project was born from Samantha’s experiences, thoughts and research. Who she told, what she did, what she didn’t do, and most of all what she wishes she had known. She didn’t have a name for it at the time, nor did she necessarily consciously realize what she was doing, but during her time of self reflecting to find her passion, the name and approach was born. She did what she had to do to be strong and get through 16 waking hours of the day. If she slept for 8, that only left 16 that she had to get through. Everyday she would wake up knowing that she only had to get through 16 hours no matter what else was going on and what else was thrown her way. And if she did, then it would be considered a successful day.
Our Mission
We seek to enlighten young people about the prevalence of ACEs while providing them with appropriate and easy to access resources. We aim to become a partner in the lives of adolescents as they navigate their way through difficult times and develop healthy minds.
We think the best place to start is education. We are dedicated to not only helping youth, but also helping educators to increase awareness and apply insights to enact positive change.
Unlocking Potential
When 16 Strong helps adolescents realize their full potential, it’s not just the students who benefit. Those kids now have a much better chance of succeeding academically, socially and professionally by being able to recognize, resist and correctly name the challenges they are facing as a result of adverse childhood experiences. By being able to work through barriers to sharing challenges and developing strong support systems, adolescents will avoid developing negative coping mechanisms and live healthier, more empowered and stronger lives.