Getting through high school and college was one of my greatest achievements.

I do not think about being beautiful. What I devote most of my time to is being healthy.

I had no doubts I could go to the pole. I may not be as strong, but I make up for physical strength in other areas, like steadiness and not panicking under stress.

The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it.

I'm lucky I had some teachers who saw something in me.

I wanted to be a teacher, but I was a lousy student, one of the slowest readers. It was a tremendous struggle. But I'm lucky I had some teachers who saw something in me.

A life lesson for me is, how do you muster the courage to take on a new risk? Whether it's starting up a business or taking on a new project or expedition. I think the risks that we take are all relative to the risk-taker.