Jazz Jennings

I want people to feel happy in their own skins and feel accepted by society.

The more words I learned, the more I started to verbalize my feelings. Whenever my mom or dad would compliment me by saying something like 'Good boy,' I'd immediately correct them. 'No. Good girl.'

As I began to grow, my family thought my obsessive interest in girly things was just a normal developmental phase.

Ever since I could form coherent thoughts, I knew I was a girl trapped inside a boy's body. There was never any confusion in my mind. The confusing part was why no one else could see what was wrong.

I'm an average girl with an average family - and I hope people can see that.

If someone's OK with being the 'transgender girl,' that's fine, but that's not me.

As a transgender child, I was always looking around for someone like me, because I thought I was the only one. It's hard to feel like that. But having support from my family changed everything. They helped me love myself and embrace who I am.

We just want to help people understand that it's okay to be transgender, and they're just like everyone else.

I want to help transgender individuals who might be struggling realize that they have to love themselves and stay true to who they are because if they keep moving forward, and keep a positive attitude, then things will get better.

It means so much to me to see Caitlyn Jenner coming out, just by being her authentic self, staying true to who she is, and just living her life.

I'm a normal person, and I'm going to make mistakes. I think people have to accept that.

Seeing states like North Carolina enacting these bathroom bills that are banning transgender individuals from using the restrooms they identify as... it's complete discrimination.

I know that one day all transgender individuals will have the freedom to be who they are, no matter what. And we won't have to face the cruel judgments of society. We can just live our lives and be treated and respected like everyone else.

I think being a teenager is a difficult journey in and of itself, but being transgender makes it that much harder.

I definitely feel that society sets expectations for transgender people to fit in and makes us feel as if we have to dress a certain way so that we blend in with everyone else. But I believe all transgender individuals should be able to wear whatever they want and not worry about fitting in.

Having transgender characters leads to more visibility, which creates education. Education can hopefully lead to everyone treating our community with acceptance and love.

I love experimenting with different hair styles and going clothes shopping.

I hope to stop discrimination against young transgender people.

Who knows? Maybe someday I'll be living in the White House.

I'm so happy trans visibility has increased immensely.