I come from a very small, poor town just outside of the Chicago area and I know what it's like to dream and accomplish some of your goals, but I would never want to do a show where I am preaching to anyone because I do not like being preached at. I want to learn right along with my audience and every show will be a collaborative effort. I am so thankful to Debra Lee and everyone at the BET Network for providing me with this unique opportunity and platform.

I would love to direct videos and that's what it keeps moving towards, but I have to stop being scared in order to do that.

I love music and I love acting. I always keep that in the forefront, not all the other distractions around me.

I think we have to be accepting of one another, and we have to appreciate what every culture has given us and name that and accept that and empower and encourage that. I really think that's what it comes down to. The images won't change until we make them change.

Sometimes, when you grow up in one of these poverty-stricken neighborhoods where the educational system isn't the best, you don't realize that you have any choices. Often, kids don't appreciate the choices available, as if it's either the street or nothing. I want them to understand that reality is what's relative to you, and that you can make choices that allow you to create a new reality for yourself.

Not being happy really is my fear.

Giving back, doing motivational speeches and stuff like that, that's always made me feel good. If you repeatedly go out there, and you are the change that you want to see, then that's what you are.