Resilience and Excellence in all you do!

  • Published
  • By Nancy Koch-Castillo
  • 412th Test Wing community support coordinator
Shona Wood has presently worked at Edwards Air Force Base for the last 12 years as a dental technician and the 412th Test Wing plans management analyst. She was also recently selected to be an installation master resilience trainer. Members considered as MRTs should already demonstrate a high degree of personal resilience.

Master Resilience Trainers, or MRTs, are an integral element to provide trained and certified members as installation experts for Comprehensive Airman Fitness. MRTs provide awareness education and skill development techniques for Airmen and their families to enhance individual resilience across the four pillars of CAF: mental, physical, social, and spiritual. The MRT role is an additional duty.

When first interviewing Shona, I asked what resiliency meant to her. She explained, "It is a state of mind, where you don't let the bumps in the road slow you down in achieving your goals." She pointed out she has been teaching resiliency to her Desert High School track and field students for the last 19 years as a coach.

She further explained her personal battle with resiliency started when she turned 12 years old and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease it is a chronic condition characterized by stiffness and inflammation of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones or nerves, possible loss of mobility and marked by discomfort and disability.

Throughout her life she has battled with her pain and discomfort and pushed forward to actually go against the odds. She runs and trains for half marathons and is training for the Agoura Hills half marathon in 2013. She has never let her discomfort get in the way of her achieving her goals.

Her determination and will to succeed in all that she undertakes in life has inspired her track and field students to take on the same positive attitude and upbeat spirit in accomplishing their goals.

The last quote Shona left with during our interview was this, which she stated was her favorite to not only quote, but to live by:

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude" -Maya Angelou