Whether you're a man or a woman - whatever your gender - if you're doing a job, and you're doing it well, you should be paid accordingly.

You can be aware and educated and informed, but you've got to place emphasis on being compassionate, having empathy and understanding.

You have to keep time aside for life, which I haven't done enough over the past couple years.

It's hard being homeless at any age, but at 16 years old? I can't even imagine. When you're a homeless teen, how do you build a future or have any sort of life?

I am all-giving like my mother and practical like my father.

My parents were married my whole life until my father passed away a few years ago.

I've always regretted that I never was able to talk openly with my parents, especially with my father. I've heard and read so many things about my family that I can no longer believe anything; every relative I question has a completely different story from the last.

What if you get a job transfer? What if you lose your job? What if you have kids and you need a bigger home? Things change. You always have to be ready to roll with it.