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Sarah Hyland may be a successful actress now, but the Modern Family star reveals ithasn't always been so easy. "I was born with so many health issuesthat doctors told my mother I would never have a normal life," Sarah told Seventeen Magazine. From that moment it was her mother who set the brunettebeauty on a path of success.
"And she said, 'You're right, she won't — butit won't be because of her health,'" Sarah, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2012 due to her kidney dysplaysia, continued. "When my mothertold me that story, it resonated with me: If I can't have an ordinary life, Imight as well have an extraordinary one. If you set your mind tosomething, you'll achieve it."
Photo: Yu Tsai
In fact, the 24-year-old admitted her fame and steadyacting work was something that took time and patience. "Happiness, I'velearned, comes from within," she explained in the May issue. "I am happiest when I am doingsomething I love. And I love Modern Family—it's the best job I've had inmy 20 years as an actress. It didn't come easily or fast or free: It took me 14years to land a gig like this."
Photo: Yu Tsai
The actress, who is currently dating Dominic Sherwood,had a tumultuous breakup with her ex-boyfriend Matthew Prokop, but offered advice to younggirls about moving forward. "When you're feeling vulnerable, it can leadto doubt and second-guessing. It will steer you away from your goals and yourhappiness," she added. "Once you have a goal, keep movingforward — even if you're taking baby steps!"
And Sarah wasn't the only one dishing out advice. Popstar Taylor Swift discussed finding strength in her life. “The things that set you apart from the pack, the things thatyou once thought were your weaknesses, will someday become your strengths,” shetold the mag.
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Even Michelle Obama has someinspiring words for teen girls. “When I first got to college, I was totallyoverwhelmed. I didn’t have any friends, and I didn’t always feel like I fitin," she revealed. "I didn’t know how to pick my classes or find theright buildings on campus. I didn’t even bring the right-size sheets for mybed. But I did know that I had to get my degree, so I made a plan."
The First Lady added, "I started seekingout people who could help me – professors, advisors, older students. I went tothe multicultural center and started meeting people – people who are still someof my closest friends today. I studied as hard as I could to get the grades Iwanted. And I didn’t let the occasional setback or stumble knock me off track.”
Photo: Yu Tsai
Other stars like Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez and Orangeis the New Black's Laverne Cox also share what they've learned aboutself-acceptance and self-confidence in the May issue that hits newsstands April21.