I went to public school my whole life, graduated high school with my class. Growing up, I’d go to an audition, my friends would go to soccer practice and we’d all reconvene and hang out in our neighborhood. When I would book something, I would never tell my friends. Acting was just fun. I was a kid, I wasn’t jaded.

My only real insecurities in high school were having such long legs and thick hair — things I’m so very grateful for now.

So often, I read scripts and am like, 'This would never happen in real life. It's not trying to be funny. It's trying to be serious.

I think every teenager goes through their angst. People who are like, 'No, I had a perfect adolescence,' make me wonder how that is possible.

A quarter of my life has been spent on 'Secret Life.' I'm 20 and I've been doing it for five years, so I think the best moments have been when all the cast members get to work together and we get to collaborate and share experiences. We all grew up together.

Have you thanked your body today? Be grateful, stay positive.

I think every script has meaningful messages no matter what it is, because inherently life is full of meaning and every single day we lean a lesson.