In 1955, the first longitudinal study of resilience began on the island of Kauai. This research continues to the present. This article presents an interview with Emmy Werner, the principal investigator. In a series of five books published over a period of thirty years, she demonstrated the remarkable ability of children from difficult backgrounds to overcome adversity. The outcome of virtually every biological or psychosocial risk condition was dependent on the quality of supportive relationships and new opportunities as their lives unfolded. While children from high-risk backgrounds had many social, emotional, learning, and behavioral problems in their early years, there was a self-righting trajectory toward positive outcomes. By middle adulthood, most displayed resilience and developed into caring, competent, and confident adults despite problematic early histories. In this interview, Werner shares her perspective on the process by which many children overcome adversity and thrive. (Contains 2 footnotes.)