What I feel the most confident about as a teacher, whatever my strengths and weaknesses are. The fact that I got to be around those people, I feel like that I have something to offer because of that blessing. Being around them a little bit... I'm not them. I'm certainly not trying to compare myself to them. But in lieu of them being able to impart something, the fact that I had so many people like that that were kind to me and talked to me was invaluable.

I was really falling in love with jazz and dedicating myself in that direction.

Life and success are about what you choose to believe.

Dust on gold doesn't change the nature of gold.

The light went on when I heard Phil [woods] play, and I went like, "That is why I'm playing the instrument." So I got very inspired, I started going to clubs through a friend's mom in the city, again, another person who just completely opened all these doors for me and it was amazing how kind she was.

I love to see people recognized [me on scene].

Leadership is not just about what you do but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do.