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

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.

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