# Learning to Stay Strong

Mar 15

Written By [Make Lemonade](/content/blog?author=582619b903596e8d06a16996/index.html)

### _The Make Lemonade Community is made up of radically unique, awesome, and genuine people. Meet one of the ‘lemons’:_

**_Jessica Hendricks_** **_(she/her)_**

🔗 [staystrongco.com](https://staystrongco.com/)

⭐️ [@staystrongco\_niagara](https://www.instagram.com/staystrongco_niagara/) \+ [@staystrongwithjess](https://www.instagram.com/staystrongwithjess)

Published March 2022

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**What do you do and why do you do it?**

### I run a mental health nonprofit called Stay Strong Collective. We have a mental wellness space in St. Catharines, Ontario where people can participate in various wellness activities, such as art, meditation, yoga and music or just hang out and be themselves. I do it because we need a space like this in Niagara. No one else is doing it so I am, with the help of many others.

**Tell us about a time that life handed you lemons. Did you make lemonade?**

### My mental health was bad in the last couple of years of high school and in college. I was able to take that and use my experiences to help others. It became my passion and purpose. And finding that purpose gave me a reason to be here.

**Do you have a quote or saying that inspires you? What is it?**

### "She believed she could so she did." I can relate to it so much because once I set my mind to something, I do it, no matter what other people say.

**Do you have a mentor? What role do they play in your success?**

### My best friend, Carly. She is a couple years older than me so I look up to her like a big sister. We've been best friends for 8 years and we've been through a lot together. She always seems to know exactly what to say to me whenever I go to her for advice.

**Do you have a book, movie, song or podcast that changed your life?**

### Any song by Demi Lovato. Their music has helped me through so many hard times in the past.

**What do you love most about yourself?**

### What I love most about myself is that I’m very determined. When I want to do something, I figure out a way to get it done, no matter how hard it might be.

**How does community play a role in your success?**

### As a founder of a nonprofit, I do have to rely on the community for support, whether that's through contributing financially or volunteering. I would not have been able to do what I've done without the support of many people.

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