As a college student during COVID-19, Jake Rattigan felt the pressures of perseverance coming from all angles. In his talk, Rattigan explores motivation, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence with a journey through his own reckoning with resilience. Jake Rattigan is a third-year student in the Rutgers University Honors College, studying Psychology, Economics, and Spanish. He currently serves as an Alternative Breaks Site Leader, Honors College Lead Ambassador, and Research Assistant in the Social, Health, & Interdisciplinary Psychophysiology Lab. Having taken a social justice and systems approach to healthcare, Jake plans to pursue a Ph.D. and career in Clinical Neuropsychology, with the goal of starting his own practice. While his primary research interests include cognition and decision-making processes, Jake is also intrigued by motivation, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence. He believes that self-compassion practices are essential components of recovery and daily life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx