The biggest lesson from Africa was that life's joys come mostly from relationships and friendships, not from material things. I saw time and again how much fun Africans had with their families and friends and on the sports fields; they laughed all the time.

I was on Oprah’s show recently talking about the people who impacted me the most. One was a teacher and one was my soccer coach. I didn’t even go into my family, who had the most influence.

I found at an early age the times when I learned the most about myself was when I got thrown out there on a stage in front of a microphone when you didn’t really want to be out there, where you’re kind of afraid.

Unfortunately, there are so many people who live their whole life in a place that is safe and protected and simple and they don’t really have that strength inside to fly.

I’m a big fan of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, they’re my two favorites.

If I want to continue to build the kind of effort we have with Do Something, being in a public office would help. I wouldn’t rule it out, but it’s not something I feel determined to do.

Winning isn’t everything, but playing and competing and striving and going through things can be a lot of fun and really important. As long as you’re doing it in a way that’s healthy, sports can be an incredible opportunity.

Young people can be the catalyst for starting the effort to redefine what’s important in America.

When we’re young we have a very clear vision of how life is supposed to be, and it all seems very neatly packaged.

If you can get a teen leader in each sector of a student population, you can pull people in. Everybody wants to get involved, but most are too afraid. When they see a person they think is cool leading it, they’re first to join.