Shorter lectures punctuated with activities to engage students in the learning process can increase student understanding, critical thinking, and overall learning. However, some students have negative responses to active teaching strategies. Here we explore the topic of student resistance to active learning, including reasons for this opposition and strategies to prevent or respond to it. Recognizing factors that lead to students' resistance to active learning is important to mitigating these barriers to learning. Equally critical to mitigating student resistance is the promotion of student resilience. Structuring classrooms to promote resilience includes community building, structured activities, and policies that recognize student diversity, and the complexity of learning processes.