Two studies are reviewed that have uncovered how the motivational patterns of resilient African American and Hispanic adolescents differ from their nonresilient counterparts. The first study found that resilient African American adolescents differed from their nonresilient counterparts in having a stronger cognitive motivational pattern of the four motivational dimensions of ability, environmental support, control, and importance and emphasis. The resilient African American students also placed more emphasis on extracurricular activities and on material gain. Resilient Hispanic adolescents also had motivational patterns that differed from their counterparts. Resilient Hispanic students believed more in their cognitive abilities than the nonresilient adolescents and they placed less of an emphasis on belongingness than their nonresilient counterparts. Resilient African American students had a more robust cognitive motivational pattern, being firmer in purpose and outlook, than the resilient Hispanic adolescents, whose motivational pattern could still be described as tenacious. In both ethnic groups, resilient students believed in the importance of material gain. These studies represent an initial exploration into the motivational patterns of resilience among ethnic groups. (Contains 2 figures and 13 references.) (SLD)