How do you feel about being on national television?
I daydream about different ways the show could go. Of course, I worry about what others will think about my story and me in general. I'm concerned about being labeled and judged. Overall I'm excited to see how it unfolds and enjoy the ride. It's been a long project and my heart is fully involved. I hope others enjoy viewing it as much as I have enjoyed sharing my experience.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Or would you choose not to and why?
I wouldn't change a thing. It's easy to get caught up in your past, thinking about what you could have done differently. To me that's not looking at your future and moving forward. Life is all about making mistakes and learning from them, and then you move on. I love that I've gotten this opportunity to share my experiences with the other people. It's easy to be scared and analyze everything I've ever said or done. I hope others will see me as being brave and honest for putting it all out there. No one is perfect, least of all me. If it just gives one person hope it's worth it.

What are some of your thoughts about the things that happened during the four years of high school. What was your best moment? Your worst?
I have a lot of thoughts involving Northwest and The Academy. One of my best moments was going to the academy and meeting some of my lifetime friends there. Without the alternative school system I know I wouldn't have graduated. I'm so thankful for the chance I had to start over and do well in school. I felt so confident when I graduated early with a high GPA. One of my worst moments was leaving my boyfriend Matt to go to LA. My eyes were flowing with tears and it was so hard to leave my friends behind.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
You can always change. I've gone through some hard times. It's all about staying positive and getting through whatever problems you have. Life is a struggle - it's how you shape yourself from those experiences that matters.

Now that you have some distance, how do you remember your high school experience, was it a good one or was it a struggle?
It was both. The good times were there but so were the struggles. You can't have one without the other.

Anything else that you'd like people to know about your experience, who you've become, and what you hope to do in the future?
l think my experience is self explanatory. You just have to watch the show and enjoy the journey. The good and the bad. I hope it will help others with things that they are experiencing when the show airs. I know it would have helped me to know that I wasn't alone.

Jessi's story sheds a shocking light on some of the most pressing issues facing young women today. She never meets her father. She is maltreated by classmates (a la “mean girls” style) and she seeks love in risky places. All of these circumstances appear to make Jessi incredibly vulnerable. Indeed we witness her frightening bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Yet despite the great inequities Jessi encounters, her delicate idealism emerges as a powerful force. While she doesn't reach her most ambitious goal in Los Angeles, all hope is not lost. Jessi's triumph is that she dreams large, despite her seemingly endless challenges. Jessi keeps her eye on the prize. There is a light shining behind those captivating eyes. The world is Jessi's stage and we have a front row seat as she scares us, saddens us and then ultimately shows us her resiliency. Somehow, Jessi always finds a way. Whether its changing high schools, boyfriends or her dreams, she modifies her plan when things aren't working.

Jessi's mom, Bobbi, is also a big part of this episode. Bobbi exemplifies the enormous challenges single moms face. Our culture has yet to address how to support single working moms, especially when their kids are experiencing difficult times. As Jessi says, Bobbi is her mom, dad, brother AND sister. Bobbi balances her daughter's needs, a full-time job and a divorce throughout Jessi's high school years. Through these layers of transition, both Jessi and Bobbi remain steadfast in their determination to share their powerful story. Through their courage we get a glimpse of the struggles thousands of families face.

So even though Jessi's episode does not offer a Disney-style ending (though Bobbi does find her prince), I am confident that there is a lot more to be written. Jessi's kite is about to soar…and there will be lots of cheers!