The idea of community and helping others has always been a part of who I am. Growing up, my parents always made sure that my siblings and I were doing our part to serve our local community.

Well, I don't know how astute I am, but I did want to be a journalist when I was growing up.

Growing up, my parents were my heroes, in the way they conducted their lives.

Well, when I was growing up it was Ozzie and Harriet on TV - nobody's parents were like that.

Growing up, I didn't really know who the Tuskegee Airmen were.

As a kid, I was always very shy growing up - I wasn't very good at articulating my thoughts or my feelings. Now that I'm older, I found acting to do that. So it's been an amazing way to sort of express who I am.