“My parents are high school sweethearts.”

I’m like, ‘Yeah, I could afford braces, but why should I change myself to be what everybody else wants me to be when I’m OK with who I am and I’m happy with who I am?’

Coffee is my water now.

I figured, ‘Why not go into entertainment?’ I love entertaining people. I always loved being extra loud.

Honestly, are we ever going to get over ‘California Girls’ by Katy Perry? I know it’s old, but that song – I love that song!

I don’t know about you, but I love going on trips – especially with my family.

I love having my hoop earrings. Just regular gold hoops.

When I was nine years old, my family lost our home, and the six of us moved into my grandparents’ converted garage.

I would love to have my own fashion line because I love sketching.

Even though I know who I am, musically I’m a blank canvas. I know what colors I want to use, but I don’t know what picture I want to paint yet.

I have fun when I’m making music, and I want people to have fun when they listen to it.

I always tell people, ‘Coming from such a big Mexican family when there’s a new baby every three weeks, you have to do something to get someone’s attention.’

People may not know this about me, but I’ve always loved cooking. My favorite thing to cook is my mom’s spicy spaghetti.

I love big summer dresses, and it sucks because I’m such a little person, so I always have to be very specific about which ones I put on.

I love people who dress how they feel and change it depending on the day.

For me, my number one Hollywood role model is Jennifer Lopez.

Growing up, my family struggled to make ends meet, so I know how important organizations like The Salvation Army are for families to lean on in times of need.

Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The current definitive answer to almost any question can be found within the four walls of most libraries.

What will a child learn sooner than a song?

Every child in every neighborhood, of every color, class and background, deserves a school that will help them succeed.

There are many self-help books by Ph.D.s, but I hold a different degree: an I.B.T.I.A.-I’ve Been Through It All. This degree comes not on parchment but gauze, and it entitles me to tell you that there is a way to get through any misfortune.

All education is self-discovery.

Well, when I went off to college, the guys I used to hang with were pumping gas and voting Democrat. Today they’re still pumping gas and voting Democrat. Guess the Democrats didn’t do much for them.

I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.

I never, ever cheated [in medical school]. I don’t condone cheating. But I would sometimes spread misinformation. This is a great tactic. Misinformation can be very important.