ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how hardships that students may encounter during college can be learned from. Learning from hardship differs from learning from challenges, learning from other people, and learning in courses and programs. Learning from hardships does not happen the same way as other key events; it requires time to deal with the hardship and the negative emotions that naturally emerge. During this time, you need to devote your attention and your energy to 'working through' this stage, giving yourself space to process what happened but also knowing that you want to and will move on. Learning about the self arose as an important factor in many of the key events that students mentioned as impacting who they are as leaders. Students learned that social support plays a pivotal role in dealing with hardships. Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate that suffering.
