More and more is being learned about the importance of social and emotional competence. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a hot topic in teaching philosophy--the latest "it girl" of education. In today's world, every person must be able to work with and live among all different kinds of people from all walks of life. Social and emotional competence is what enables individuals to function and thrive among people different from themselves. It gives them resilience to overcome obstacles, no matter how large or small, to reach their highest potential. Children learn critical SEL skills through their experiences. As society comes to understand the importance of SEL, schools and afterschool programs are working to incorporate deliberate activities to help students sharpen social and emotional competencies, including resilience. This article presents why afterschool programs are a good opportunity to teach resilience as a key social and emotional competency.