I hope to focus on what I'm passionate about because I think I'd do them best job on them - education, urban education, women and children's issues and literacy.

I hope that I serve by being a teacher.

I'm sure there were times when I wish I had thought, 'Gosh, that might really embarrass mom and dad,' but our parents didn't raise us to think about them. They're very selfless and they wanted us to have as normal of a college life as possible. So really, we didn't think of any repercussions.

Luckily I've had a lot of great friends that I've had for a long time.

I'm a perfectionist - I could rewrite forever.

Kids are so dynamic; if you're tired and you walk into a roomful of kids, your energy is brought up to their level.

I think I've become more like my mom just because of what we're both interested in, children and teaching and writing.