I know that I've got big ears and a big forehead and that my hair sticks up. But I'm happy with myself. I'm not necessarily trying to win a beauty pageant here.
I could have a degree in music and come on the show, and Simon could still say 'You stink'.
I got rid of my glasses and they changed my hair. That's really all they did. They went shopping for me, so the clothes are different too. It wasn't like Extreme Makeover where I got a nose job or anything.
Actually, I don't hate cats, I'm just kind of afraid of them.
I want to make sure that no matter how long I go through this, I don't fall into the trap of changing and modifying how I do things that aren't a positive example. I want to remain somebody that the entire family can listen to or watch.
It's important that I make a difference in some way. It's not necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do.
I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that.
I thought about that the other day after I went to the grocery store and had to sign fifteen autographs before leaving. On one hand, it's just so flattering. On the other hand, sometimes it would be nice to get the bread and leave, you know?
The greatest glory never comes from falling, but from rising each time you fall.
I know this is going to sound cheesy and like I'm trying to be Miss America, but the most important responsibility a celebrity has is to set an example and be a role model.
If my career detour from special education to singing has done one thing, it has afforded me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
I decided to study special education and fell in love with working with individuals with autism. That's what I planned to do with my life.
I mean, that's kind of what this business is about in some ways. You're trying to make everybody like you. But you can't do that. You can't force everybody - anybody to like you if they're just not willing to do it.
No matter what the situation you're in, if you're raised in a loving environment, that's the most important thing.
I had a Spanish teacher in high school. I rarely got in trouble in her room because I felt I was disappointing her if I got a bad grade. That had more power over me than teachers who told me I talked too much. That level of respect I had for her made me not want to fail for her.
I kind of had my life planned out for me. I'd be married at some point, have, you know, 1.5 children, and be a principal possibly one day. But I think that that was kind of my problem. I allowed myself to plan out my life and didn't let provident direction guide my life.
I think I probably hoped for it a little bit, but I'm not an optimist. I'm a realist... or maybe even a pessimist.
My mother taught me that we all have the power to achieve our dreams. What I lacked was the courage.
It's not the money. It's not the fame. It's the influence.
I'm really not that special. Really, I'm not. I was on a big TV show, but it was just a TV show.
