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" Where did you grow up? When I was 17, I lived with my family in Van Nuys, California. I have been living in Los Angeles for a while now, pursing my acting career while going to school at the same time. Were you a good student? I would have to say I was an excellent student. I was the type to always do my homework and study when I needed to. I never really partied or did anything like that. I graduated with a 3.8 grade average. More important, while in high school I was working on Sister, Sister with my twin sister, Tamera. While working, we were required to do three hours of school a day. When we were done with Sister, Sister for the year, we would then go back to school and jump back on the regular schooling schedule at a public high school. I loved getting tutored and having that one-on-one attention that you sometimes do not get in regular school. Also, I loved learning with my sister. We had a lot of fun. We would also move at our pace with certain subjects. If math was very difficult at the time we could move at our pace, not having to feel rushed. Did you have an after-school job? At 17, I was able to do what I have always loved to do, which was act. So, at that age I had been working on my show, Sister, Sister, with my sister for three years. What was the worst popular trend when you were going to school? I would have to say those fanny packs. They would hook around your waist and it was used as a little purse. In addition to the fanny packs were these funky hats that we would call Blossom hats. They were these big hats with flowers on them. Do you have a quote in your high school yearbook? I think it was, &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;ve fallen and I can&amp;#039;t get up.&amp;quot; It was a quote that Steve Urkel would say on Family Matters. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I grew up I always wanted to act. Also, I wanted to be either a lawyer or a doctor. However, when I got to college and realized what those occupations entailed, I changed my mind real quick. LOL! What is the craziest thing you ever did to get a guy to notice you? I would have to say singing out loud whenever he was around. This one guy was really into music and I thought I could impress him and let him know I too could sing, and, of course, when I bolted out a tune, my voice cracked! Find out how Tia&amp;#039;s life has changed from then to now on the --&amp;amp;gt;.  What was your style when you were 17? What is it like now? When I was 17 I was the Nike Queen. I would always wear jumpsuits, tracksuits, and sneakers. You could also catch me in some turtlenecks and sweaters. Now I am very much into style. You can catch me in some designer jeans with cute tops. Sundresses are a favorite of mine, with designer flats and designer purses. However, I have not strayed away from the jumpsuits. You can still catch me wearing Juicy jumpsuits. What kind of clique were you in back then? Now? I never really hung out with a click. My sister was my clique; however, my sister and I are biracial (black and white), and there weren&amp;#039;t many of us at the high school we went to, so we would hang out with all the mixed kids and pretend we were all sisters and cousins. Now I have no clique at all. If you call my family a clique, then that&amp;#039;s my clique. My family, best friend, and my fianc\u00E9. What were your hobbies back then? Now? I loved to go to amusement parks, movies, and just hang out with my friends and dance. Now I love to read, hang out with my friends, go to dinner, travel, cook, hike, and go to the movies. What rumors were people spreading about you then? Now? Well, when I was in high school I never really dated. I was busy with work and was so focused with my career and school that I never had a boyfriend. I never had the TIME to date, and people would think that my sister and I were lesbians, which, of course, we are not. Now, for some reason, the rumor around town always seems to be that I am pregnant. If I gain a few pounds it is because I am pregnant. How about maybe I just like to eat! HA! More recently, I guess now that I am engaged people think that I am engaged because I am pregnant, and it is far from true. I am not pregnant. Maybe fans just want me to have a baby. I don&amp;#039;t know what the obsession is about. What nicknames did you have back then? Now? It&amp;#039;s always been Ti-Ti, short for Tia.  Who was your best friend? Are they still your best friend now? Jessica Laskey. She&amp;#039;s still my best friend now. What did you do for fun? Now? I would sing and dance and go to amusement parks and just hang out at the mall. Now I love to go hiking, shopping, and travel. I also love to cook. What advice did your parents give you when you were 17? Now? They always told me to be myself. Work hard at everything I do and to put God first. Now it&amp;#039;s the same thing. Be the best, work hard, and never give up. What did you worry about back then? Now? I worried about little stuff. How my grades were. Did I study enough for the exam? Does so-and-so like me? Is my outfit ugly? Now I worry about, am I going to be good mother one day? What am I going to be doing five years from now? Who was your idol back then? Now? My mother, and she still is till this day. She is a great mother, woman, and she has so much strength and wisdom. Who were your celebrity crushes? Now? It used to be Brad Pitt. But now it&amp;#039;s Johnny Depp.  Head to the --&amp;amp;gt; to read Tia&amp;#039;s letter to her 17-year-old self! Dear 17-year-old self, Don&amp;#039;t worry about your grades \u2014 you&amp;#039;ll do fine. You are going to go to college, find an amazing guy, and everything will fall into place.  What is meant to be will be. Don&amp;#039;t get caught up in being perfect, because we all win some and lose some. Just believe in yourself. Relax and enjoy your life. Life is too short and it will go by quick! Love, Tia "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/interviews/a1164/tia-wiw17-1207/>