"I had my first concert in front of 80,000 people at the International Soca Monarch Finals." — Rachel Platten

I'd faced a lot of rejection from labels and the industry, and it was getting hard to keep believing in myself. But something wouldn't let me - inside - I had this voice that was relentlessly hopeful, and honestly, I just loved performing and writing too much to ever really quit.

I think I made this decision that I just loved making music, and it didn't matter what level I got to do it on, and 'Fight Song' was this declaration that I'm going to keep going, and I'm going to keep believing in myself, even if it seems like it's impossible.

I used to imagine working as a White House staffer some day, so it was pretty amazing to be there... realizing another dream.

I was a political science major in college and dreamed of being a diplomat.