"Really, the message that comes through is to think for yourself. Think about what you really like to do, what you really want to do, and do it! I say this to kids everyday — whether they're in my office, the interns, the people who email me — and it's a cliché and I know it sounds Pollyanna-ish, but you can do the things that you want to do. I'm always saying to girls, 'You do have the power to pursue your path.'"
Amy Astley is my role model. I'm not sure what I'm more excited about: The Teen Vogue Handbook or this incredible interview Mediabistro did with Amy about the magazine's upcoming book.
This is the kind of advice I try to repeat to myself every single day, throughout the day. Sometimes when I'm sitting in class in the middle of Missouri, I need to remind myself that I can be whoever I want to be and do whatever I want to do. Call what you will — Pollyanna-ish, as Amy said, or Cinderella-esque, as I like to think — but I believe constantly reminding ourselves of our potential is one of the most important things we can do.
And it's even cooler when Amy's the one to remind us.
