Growing up, my dream was to be a high school English teacher and to work in inner city schools to teach young people how to express their lives, their challenges and aspirations through writing.

WHITEHOUSE: Connecting the Dots

The lessons that carry me and serve as the foundation of my work come from a long history of people that had a dream based on a strong love for their children and principle of giving and serving others.

WHITEHOUSE: Out of Every Experience, You Can Gain a Lesson

She said all humans had the fundamental "right to dream" and described how her "early years proved to be formative for my future work as a writer and activist".

BBC: Jaipur Literature Festival begins