The early years of life are powerful. They quietly shape our view of the world, how we handle challenges, and how we relate to others. When those early years are lived during times of upheaval, such as war or national recovery, they can leave a lasting imprint. Children who grow up in these conditions are often required to mature quickly. They learn resilience not from books, but from life itself.
Those born during the Second World War, for example, lived through rationing, blackouts, bombing raids, and displacement. Even after the war, hardship remained, food shortages, economic instability, and the difficult work of national rebuilding. But from these conditions often emerged individuals with a powerful mix of endurance, discipline, and empathy. Their understanding of hardship wasn’t theoretical; it was woven into daily life. And that understanding became a foundation for navigating the complexities of adult life with an uncommon perspective.
In these environments, resilience is not taught, it is absorbed. Children see their families doing more with less. They watch neighbours work together. They witness adults adapt, persist, and carry on with dignity. This becomes their silent curriculum. While many lacked formal advantages, they gained a deep education in character. They grew up understanding the importance of resourcefulness, cooperation, and long-term thinking. These are the very skills that define leadership and success in a globalized, uncertain world.
At the same time, those who were fortunate to have family support during these years often found that education became their path forward. Encouraged by parents or grandparents who valued learning, many children from wartime generations pursued academic excellence with determination. It wasn’t just about personal ambition; it was about making the most of rare opportunities and contributing meaningfully to a better world.
Formal education served not only as a tool for personal development but as a gateway to broader horizons. It helped unlock access to the wider world, its history, its cultures, its systems. For many, this combination of hardship and high-quality education produced a rare kind of global citizen: practical, grounded, and intellectually capable. These individuals went on to build careers not just in one city or country, but across continents, industries, and diplomatic arenas.
This journey, from local resilience to international impact, is reflected in Robert Adams’ memoir, A Life of Risk and Reward: From Oman to Sarajevo. The book explores how being born at the start of World War II and growing up in the difficult years that followed laid the emotional and intellectual foundation for a global career spanning nearly 30 countries. Though the memoir recounts specific experiences, the deeper message is universal: our beginnings, no matter how challenging, can be the source of our greatest strength.
Today’s young people face different but equally daunting uncertainties, such as climate change, global pandemics, and economic disruptions. For them, the lessons of previous generations are deeply relevant. Resilience, adaptability, curiosity, and education remain the cornerstones of any meaningful career. And just as in the past, the quiet support of family and mentors plays a decisive role in shaping those who will lead tomorrow.
The path from adversity to achievement isn’t always obvious. But history shows it is possible, and often, the people who make the biggest impact are those who learned early how to thrive in difficult times. As A Life of Risk and Reward illustrates, resilience is not inherited. It is built, tested, and refined, and often begins in the humblest of circumstances.
If you’re seeking insight into how resilience and education can transform lives, even in the face of enormous challenges, this memoir offers a timeless example of how one life can rise from local struggle to global service.