Misty Copeland

“There are hundreds of stories I've heard from black women from my generation, generations before me, and the next, that have never been given an opportunity to fulfill their dreams.”

“Every time I step onto the stage, it's not only proving to the audience that I'm capable but to myself.”

“I wake up every morning, and I go to ballet class no matter what's going on the night before. That's my priority, and that's what makes me feel sane and not removed from the realities of my...”

“I never thought of myself as special or particularly good at anything. But once I started ballet, suddenly I had a new identity: prodigy.”

“You have to be the one promoting yourself. If you don't think that you're worthy, you're never going to make it.”

“I think, as a child, there weren't dreams. I can't recall as a child having some ultimate dream and thinking that it was possible.”

“All you can do is be your best self. I've always felt that I had to be that much more aware of how I present myself. I'm representing more than just me. I think every person should think tha...”

“Though I have tremendous support from lots of people, there are so many others waiting to tear me down.”