What would I do if I wasn't afraid?

I believe everyday your life speaks to you - through every experience, through the people you meet, and even through pain, fear and self-doubt.

I've learned to rely on the strength I inherited from all those who came before me-the grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and brothers who were tested with unimaginable hardships and still survived. 'I go forth alone, and stand as ten thousand,' Maya Angelou proclaimed in her poem 'Our Grandmothers.' When I move through the world, I bring all my history with me-all the people who paved the way for me are part of who I am.

No matter how diligent or persistent you have been, there is not one of us who made this journey toward success by ourselves.

I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.

To this day I always say my prayers on my knees 'cause I think maybe they get there sooner.

The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your knees knocking, but to walk on in there anyway.