It's really important to be active in your community, whatever community that is... find allies and find people who you relate to and who make you stronger as a group.

I have a condition called Menieres disease which is a problem with fluid retention in the inner ear. It has four symptoms: ringing in the ear, pressure in the ear, fluctuating hearing loss, and attacks of vertigo.

My junior year, I was in a play at school and five days before opening night, I still didn't know my lines. Opening night was a disaster. I was so embarrassed. The director made me work backstage for the rest of the performance.

In my normal life, I do not speak with an accent. It's harder for people to realize my hearing loss in everyday life.

In the deaf community, in order to play a role of someone with a hearing loss... you have to have hearing loss.

I was born in San Antonio, TX, but moved to Lakewood, CO in elementary school. Then, I moved to Valley Center, CA in high school.

The iPad was my first splurge after I got my first paychecks. I paid off the debt, and I now bring the iPad with me to auditions.