A couple of years ago, Melissa taught me that the role of an actress is not to insert the character into themselves but rather insert themselves into the character. So is life. Since high school, Melissa and I have shared the struggles of navigating through life as ourselves rather than allow life and the rest of the world to take over. We both realize what a monumental task this has been, yet here we are still standing strong. She is a strong woman who has found a bit more of herself as she has survived the many tribulations that would punish the rest of us. Through all the many circumstances she has been through, she still puts forth effort in supporting her loved ones - me included. We’ve known each other for well over ten years, but this conversation is where I learned the most about her. She is one of the few people whom I interviewed that is truly passionate about what she does (inside and outside of her day job). Whether she is rehearsing for a commercial or rehearsing for surgery, her hard work and dedication for her crafts have led to her success. I also learned that success is loving yourself fully and all that you have or will accomplish.