New movie The Honor List is all about getting through tough times by leaning on friends. Actresses who star in the movie have struggled with their own real-life challenges, and that makes the big screen story ring with truth. Fictional friends in The Honor List find healing support in each other when they are faced with tragedy. You can find support in these personal tips from cast members of The Honor List who share how they’ve gotten through their hardest challenges.

  1. Learn to Rely on Yourself

Actress Meghan Rienks had to build inner strength to cope with college bullying. She learned to rely on herself. “I don’t think it’s possible to fully move past something that traumatizing; it’s about learning from the experience and moving forward despite it all,” says Rienks.

  1. Trust Your Instincts

Sasha Pieterse lived a healthy lifestyle, so she knew something was wrong when she mysteriously started gaining weight. Pieterse persisted in looking for an answer until she found the doctor who diagnosed her polycystic ovary syndrome. “The fact that I figured out what it was and got on the road to recovery and able to move forward with my life was huge,” she said. “And it was made better by the people around me.”

  1. Give 1,000 Percent Effort

Karrueche Tran put in the time and effort that was necessary to make the transition from modeling to acting in feature films.  “I started to condition myself . . . taking private acting classes as well as group classes to help perfect my career,” she said.

  1. Build Up Your Resilience and Persistence

Resilience and persistence are paying off for Arden Cho, who last year started an accessories business in New York City. “I don’t have a business or design background, so there have been many challenges, but I’m constantly learning, growing, and adapting,” she says. “I guess I’m just taking it a day at a time and happy that I haven’t given up.”

  1. Stick by Friends Who Actually Know How to Help You

Cho has learned to choose her friends wisely. “Sometimes there’s nothing anyone can say or do to make things better, but the fact that they’re there means the world,” she says. “I think my best friends have just been there for me when I needed them.”

  1. Have Confidence in Your Choices

While recovering from bullying required more than simply leaving school, Rienks is confident in her choice. “Honestly, dropping out didn’t solve all the problems,” she says. “I knew I needed to get out of the situation (college) and I really hoped it would be a cure-all, but if you’ve been badly bullied, you know that the scars last quite a bit longer.” She knows that removing herself from the situation is an integral part of the healing process.

Read More: 6 Tips for Getting Through Life’s Toughest Moments. Catch a sneak peek here and then see the movie on iTunes or DVD.