As part of my new web series, The Role Model In You, here is my most recent interview. The Role Model In You series discusses how individuals were influenced as a child to lead a healthy lifestyle. It covers who influenced these individuals, the changes they made in their life to be healthy, and the message they would like to convey to the youth of today. Our guests include doctors, soccer stars, Super Bowl champions, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and just regular people looking to share their story. I hope you enjoy it!

1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?

Suzanne Raga, 22 years old. I graduated from Princeton University in June 2011, and I currently live in NYC and work at a music licensing company.

2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?

My martial arts teacher inspired me to stay fit and lead a healthy lifestyle — not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Going to karate class three times a week instilled a deep sense of discipline into me. Each class started with a meditation exercise, in which I sat still and focused on my breath, which I still do to this day.

3. What did they do to inspire you?

He definitely led by example. The focus, intensity, and commitment to physically fitness and health was apparent in the way that he talked and carried himself while teaching martial arts.

4. How did their lesson change your life?

The precision, focus, and discussion of values like patience, integrity, and ambition translated to my academics. In my classwork throughout middle school and high school, I used the focus and commitment to excellence that I learned in karate.

5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?

I share the outlook and strategies I developed from leading a fit lifestyle in my book, You Rock! How To Be A Star Student & Still Have Fun, and my blog called You Rock. I want to help kids (ages 12 and up) that eating healthily, exercising, and minimizing stress are essential to being happy, healthy, and productive people.

6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?

You only get one body, so treat it well. I view the mind and body as interconnected, so what you fill your body with is just as important as what you fill your mind with. Staring at the computer (or iPhone) screen for hours and hours everyday is really bad for you. Take breaks, move around, and fill your body with nutritious fuel.

7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?

YOU ROCK! How To Be A STAR Student & Still Have FUN