If life has taught me anything, it is that no matter who you are or where you are in life, you can always learn something new. It has also taught me that insight can come from anyone, anywhere. As kids, most of the life lessons we learned and cherished came from our favorite TV shows. We looked up to those characters and actors; we wanted to be just like them. At 14, I thought the important things in life were cute clothes and boys because that’s what the girls on my favorite TV shows were talking about. At 14, I wish I‘d had the amazing influence that Rowan Blanchard is to young kids. She so clearly understands how to use her platform as an actress and advocate, encouraging others to stand up for what they believe in and create real change: no matter their age, no matter their gender, no matter their circumstances. Here are seven reasons why I think she can teach us all a little something about life and being human.

1. She wowed everyone with her knowledge of intersectional feminism

Rowan Blanchard gave a very enlightening speech about gender inequality at the UN Women’s annual conference in the summer of 2015. However, it was her essay on intersectional feminism that really resonated with other like-minded individuals. In it, Blanchard acknowledges how detrimental white feminism is to issues of race affecting black women, Hispanic women and trans women of color; and how it is important to note how these women experience inequality in different ways. She perfectly pointed out the issues with white feminism with this statement, “We are so quick to applaud white women for commenting on race issues/discussions like #BlackLivesMatter and #SayHerName, but when a black girl comments on it- she is told she is overreacting or being angry.”

2. She called out Hollywood's obsession with dieting

We all know how harmful the media has been for the self-esteem of young girls and boys. Hollywood’s scrutiny with what people wear, how they look and what they eat can be dizzying for the young person who just wants to be accepted. Dieting is just another Hollywood obsession that has pushed vulnerable people into thinking that they are not good enough the way they are. In an interview, Blanchard addressed how ridiculous and absurd this obsession is when she revealed that she had been asked, on a red carpet, about dieting tips, “I mean, come on. I don’t diet! I’m thirteen! Nobody my age should be dieting or trying to change themselves because society says so.”

3. She explained the harm of "Squad Goals"

In today’s digital world, access to our favorite celebrities’ everyday lives comes with the click of a button. Through social media, we get insight into how they spend their free time, into their friends and their families. Often times we see our favorite female celebrities share photos with their group of girls, their “squad”. As powerful as these friendships can be for young girls to see, “squads” can seem all too glamorous and exclusive for an everyday girl. Squad goals, largely popularized by artists like Taylor Swift, create an image of ideal “femininity” that looks only one way. Blanchard explained this so perfectly, “But, the ‘squads’ we see in the media are very polarizing. Feminism and friendship are supposed to be inclusive, and most of these ‘squads’ are strictly exclusive. It makes feminism look very one dimensional.”

4. She called out the sexism in telling women to smile

As women we have all had to deal with society’s pressures. Everywhere we go we are being told how we should look or act, and being told to smile is no less insulting. Controlling how we express ourselves with our bodies and emotions is something no one else has the right to take away. The right to that agency is something Blanchard defended, “if I want to smile I will!! Nothing more than that.”

5. She questioned the feminist stance on nudity and defended Kim Kardashian's selfie

A complex issue within the feminist community, that has been long debated, is that of nudity. The problem that so many people have a hard time understanding is that there is nothing inherently wrong with nudity, that is something perpetrated by societal norms. Feminism is all about women being respected for what is in their mind and not judged solely for their bodies. However, feminism is also about the agency we have, as women, to control what we do with our bodies. We really have to question a society that gets angry with a woman choosing to show off her body because she wants to, but turns a blind eye to a woman whose body has been violated. What does that say about us? What do we value? Blanchard expressed this very sentiment in her defense of Kardashian’s selfie, "Girls being nude publicly isn't new: but isn't it nice when they can be the subject of the image, and the portrayer too?"

6. She opened up about her struggles with growing up and depression

We all struggle with finding ourselves, our voice. As a 22-year-old college student, I find myself in a weird stage of knowing what I want for my future, but still not having it all figured out. Growing up can be hard; we all feel things that we don’t quite understand and that can send us into a whirlwind. In another beautifully raw, penned letter, Blanchard opened up about dealing with feelings of depression and demonstrated an understanding of those feelings that many of us have not been able to wrap our minds around. “As I found myself, this year in particular, going through ups and downs with depression, I realized that instead of rejecting and ostracizing these teenage feelings (human feelings), I can learn to love the intensity of them and know that everything is momentary.”

7. She came out as queer on twitter

In a fast evolving world, gender and sexual orientation are becoming a much more fluid concept. When even four years ago, when I was in high school, living outside of the binary of straight and cisgender, wasn’t all too visible. Rowan Blanchard made headlines again with the nonchalant manner in which she opened up about her sexuality and broadened the discussion surrounding the queer community. In response to a tweet about her fictional character being bisexual, Blanchard loved the idea and acknowledged the importance of representation, being queer herself. Blanchard’s statement furthered the conversation as she explained that the term, for her, meant a rejection of labels and being open to loving any gender in the future. Seeing a young person be so open and proud about who they are is really remarkable.

It is hard to believe that Rowan Blanchard is only 14-years-old and has already expressed so much more maturity and wisdom than many adults. She has definitely shown the world that young voices are valuable and can teach us all something new.