If you gave your best to what you were given, at the time, it's going to play out how it's going to play out.

To me, when you're at a hotel and your home environment is ultimately dictated by somebody else, I always find that a little bit oppressive and scary in a way.

Without a safe haven, one of the most authentic parts of who you are, who you love, felt invisible to the world.

My parents raised me right, so I always open doors for people and try to have good manners.

When you really put your heart and soul into something, the temptation is to try to be in control of circumstances, however you can, and looking and seeing how people are responding.

Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, some kids are taught at an early age that being different is somehow bad or wrong or worthy of ridicule.

I can safely say that I had an incredibly difficult and trying past growing up and trying to be an artist and standing up as who I am in this world.