The concept of “strength” comes to me in many forms. It is a broad term — Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary has nine different definitions for it.

During my last three years at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, I have had the honor of meeting some strong individuals and seen situations that require people to have a strong will.

Sometimes strength is literal. Sometimes strength is emotional. Strength can be the similarity in surviving a war or just trying to win a fight. Finding the courage to follow through comes from an inner power to commit and succeed.

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Everyone has had to be strong for something or someone. These are the stories that have stayed with me since I became a photographer at the Daily Egyptian in fall 2007.