In this article: Profile: Josh Groban A legion of fans

Who inspires me to be true to myself
By Josh Groban

"I had a family that was supportive. I had a vision early on that not a lot of kids around me had."

One thing my parents always instilled in me is to be true to myself and unwavering in following my instincts. They've always tried to keep me positive. You know the song High Hopes? When I was younger, I had this "I can't, I can't" personality. I had a lot of ability and a love for life and music, but I wouldn't say I had high hopes. I could've raised the bar higher. And my parents were always there just to make sure I knew I could do it.

One of the hardest times I ever had was in junior high. My grades weren't great, it was hard to make friends ... I was pretty miserable, like most kids in junior high! People deal with it in different ways, to try to find who they are. Some do a lot of things they later regret. It was definitely a challenge to stay the course and trust myself, but I managed to do it.

My passion was music, and I felt so lucky to have had that focus. I knew exactly what I wanted, and that really helped me in not feeling like I had to give in to the angst that comes with that time in your life. I had a family that was supportive, and I made sure to soak up culturally all that my city had to offer. The arts made me confident. I had a vision and a path early on that not a lot of kids around me had.

Now, at 24, looking at the new "adult" world around me, some things don't change. It's been a very rewarding last couple of years because I've been able to just go out and be myself. What people see and hear is who I am. The most rewarding risk is the one you take based on trusting the voice inside you. If you make a decision not based on who you really are and it's not a success, you'll always regret it. So far, I have no regrets. I have a lot of choices to make in the coming years, but knowing they will all come from an honest place makes me excited for the outcome, whatever it is.