Mostly, I avoid worrying since the time spent doing it could be spent more constructively.

Any good teacher knows how important it is to connect with students and understand our culture.

Since the age of four, I've been exploring what I can do with the written word: everything from championing literacy and youth voice to raising awareness about world hunger.

Hoping to instill my love of learning in other children, I taught my first class at a local elementary school the year my first book, 'Flying Fingers,' debuted; since then, I have spoken at hundreds of schools, classrooms and conferences around the world.

The unsaid message of that endless rack of juniors' pushup bras? No matter what size you are, it still isn't good enough.

There's no committee that says, 'This is the type of person who can change the world - and you can't.' Realizing that anyone can do it is the first step. The next step is figuring out how you're going to do it.

The point of my work is to make it clear that all youth can make 'big miracles' happen.