Desi Lydic

So we would have free play, at least in Alabama at the time.

And during the free play, the kids would be doing their sports, whatever.

I would be off to the side by myself dancing.

I had music in my head and I had these characters that I would express through movement.

And it was my imagination and it took me out of Alabama.

I was never in Alabama.

I was like the second I knew that there was a New York and that there was like a Broadway and a TV and a movie that I can perform in, that's where I was.

And so I just always went someplace else.

So I would use dance and music in my head to do that and begged my mother for dance classes.

And finally, in third grade, she found a program called Culture in Black and White, where I got to go once a week and study dance.

And it was...

I can't tell you how life-saving it was because it was an outlet.

It was a creative outlet.

It gave me something to dream about and to have goals around so that I was never, like the bullies, I mean, they obviously affected me.

I acted at the time like they didn't, but I was like, I can't be concerned about this because I have to get to New York.

I have to be a star.

I don't have time for this like silly kid stuff.

And for creative expression, whether you want to be an artist or not, I'm like a huge advocate for arts in school and just arts for kids anyway.

We know that kids who study music do better in math and science.

And Brene Brown in her book, Gifts of Imperfection, says that she has 10 guideposts for wholehearted living.