Actress

With 'Suite Life,' I had three years to sit a little bit on the back burner and learn with less pressure.

Dweebs are the new chic.

I was raised to volunteer: nursing homes, clinics, church nurseries, school, everywhere that could use help. It's such an intrinsic part of me, to use my life to help improve the quality of others.

I'm definitely careful. I'm not reckless or stupid, but that's how I was raised, to not be stupid or immature in as far as trying to grow up too quickly or putting forward a certain image that isn't me.

When you're in an industry where you're forced to grow up so quickly, part of you never grows up, and that's a good thing.

I want in 40 years to still be acting and to more than anything have longevity and not just be this huge flash in the pan and then disappear.

I'm introverted by nature, and I need to have some things of my own.

Look at what you want to change, gather a few people who believe in it like you do, and start moving forward. It's important to remember that you don't always need a destination. Sometimes, you just have to make forward motion. And you absolutely can.

Every Thanksgiving, we all write down three things we're thankful for and put them in a hat. Then we pass the hat around the dinner table and everyone has to guess who wrote what!

I went through a few phases of finding myself: I dabbled in musical theater, chess club, dance troupe, splatter-painting, school mascot (go Wildcats), babysitter, photojournalist, drill team girl, emo kid - and not one of them defined me, but every single one will always play a part in who I am.

My mom always makes the whole family pile into the car and drive around to look at the Christmas lights. My brother and I never want to do it, but my mom just loves it!

Any mature, responsible adult doesn't run around stomping their feet and screaming 'I'm a mature, responsible, adult.'

I remember going to acting class, so certain that no one's ever going to know my name.

My brother plays guitar and base and writes. His name is Chase Ryan.

I wouldn't do the music thing if it weren't for my brother, who's a producer. He understands me and helps my vision come to life.

I didn't grow up in one place, so I never had a certain mentality. I have some aspects of growing up in Texas, but I also have a lot of East Coast family. I would have loved to grow up on the East Coast.

I'm definitely interested in making more music and uploading new covers; I like to take suggestions because it's more fun if people know the song.

I'm very practical and realistic.

I can look back at things I've done and said and worn and be completely humiliated by them, but I can never say it wasn't me. I feel really honored to say that.

Music is such an intensely personal thing for me, and I knew if I was going to do it, it would be in my own way.