Lizzie Velasquez

I credit a lot of learning to love myself to my faith, my family and my friends. Everyone needs someone you can look to for constant support, who you never have to impress, to share your happy and sad days.

Beyond scheduling regular checkups with my cardiologist, there is no way to know if or when my heart condition might become critical.

I told myself that I wanted to be a motivational speaker, I wanted to write a book, graduate college, have my own family, and have my own career.

Back when Myspace was around I couldn't wait to have my own account. My parents told me I could get one as long as I was okay with the fact that with the good comes the bad.

Bullying needs to have more attention, and there needs to be more open communication in schools to make kids feel comfortable enough to speak up.

You don't have to live up to anyone else's standards, you don't have to look like anyone else, you don't have to compare yourself to anyone else. You being you is enough, and you putting your positivity and good vibes out into the world, once you get to that point absolutely everything will fall into place.

I feel like I've built up this persona of always being positive and always being happy, and I worried if my audience sees me not in that light, will they think less of me? Will they discredit me? Will I just be nothing?

I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic.

Bullying in 2015 has a whole new look. It doesn't ever end. It's 24/7.

You'd assume I was being bullied a tonne at school and it was horrible, but in reality, I really was getting bullied everywhere else.

I feel I'm really glad I don't look like the celebrities out there who are beautiful, because there are a lot of stereotypes attached to that.

I am very determined but I also have a tendency to be very stubborn. If I'm ever told I can't do something I put my mind to or that I won't be able to accomplish, I automatically think of it is a dare that I won't do it and it makes me that much more determined to get it accomplished.