I would say the youth systems in Germany have impressed me the most and how they grow their youth players into full professionals.

I was always, you know, a decent player growing up. And yes, I was born with a certain amount of so-called 'natural ability.' But I also worked and sacrificed a lot to try to maximize what I was born with - which I think is important to point out.

I played with the youth national team, I played in some CONCACAF games, and it's always physical; it's always intense.

I was always very small, so growing up, I was always getting kicked around. It was something I kind of grew up with.

We're going to be treated very poorly, I think that goes with the territory, and you have to get over it, get beyond it and know who you are among your peers and especially among your family when you look in the mirror.

My husband is Australian, and my family is scattered around the U.K. and France mostly, but we try to get a big group together for the holidays.

My mother was largely a housewife until she and my father were divorced. No one in the family read for pleasure - it was a very unintellectual household - but my mother did read to us when we were little, and that's how I started to read.

I think about my own sons and my own daughters, and I'm sure that many parents are concerned about what their children are exposed to.