I honestly felt no envy or resentment, only astonishment at how much of a world there was out there and how much of it others already knew. The agenda for self-cultivation that had been set for my classmates by their teachers and parents was something I'd have to develop for myself.

It really takes growing up to treasure the specialness of being different.

I have never, ever focused on the negative of things. I always look at the positive.

I've never had my dexterity called into question, but I think if that was ever the case, I could acquit myself by tossing a ball back and forth horizontally between my hands.

No matter how liberal I am, I'm still outraged by crimes of violence. Regardless of whether I can sympathize with the causes that lead these individuals to do these crimes, the effects are outrageous.

When I call myself an affirmative action baby, I'm talking about the essence of what affirmative action was when it started.

I am growing to love DC. But the core of Sonia is a New Yorker.