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.

While everyone I work with may not share my beliefs, I have been surrounded by nothing but support.

I don't understand why people like me! It doesn't make any sense!

I went to school for special education. I always assumed when I had the opportunity I would love to try and help kids with disabilities.

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.

Perseverance. I got cut twice. I got cut in Charlotte. I didn't have to go to Atlanta to audition. I could have said, "I'm not cut out for this." But I said, "I think I'm better than that, I can go try again." So I went to Atlanta and I made it through. Then I got cut the first time around. I could have told them I didn't want to come back for the Wild Card show but I did and look how far I got.