Make time in your life to listen to your own voice. Do not let it get drowned out by others. Your voice is yours and yours alone. Stay in touch with it and use it.

I don't believe in gutter politics. I don't believe in gutter journalism.

Part of what Special Olympics is trying to do is break down stereotypes that still exist for people. There is still a lot of fear.

Comparing how you feel on the inside (bad) to the way someone else looks on the outside (great) is a losing proposition. It's an impossible standard.

I see bright kids trapped in public schools that are just warehousing them. As an educator this makes me scared. As Secretary of State, this makes me terrified.

I'm only asking you to stop every so often and turn off your mobile device, put down the Angry Birds and the Words with Friends and take a moment. Stop to look up and look around. Pause and check in with yourself - and spend a moment there.

God puts mentors in your path. They may not look like you, sound like you, or be what you expect. But they always know more that you.