Age: 23

Education: Boylan Catholic High School and studied psychology at Lewis University in Romeoville.

Dance background: As a child, I danced at Forest Hills Dance. I spent my adult dance career performing and teaching at Xtreme Dance Force.

Job: I work in entertainment for the Walt Disney Co. in Orlando, Fla. 

City of residence: Orlando, Fla.

Hometown: Rockford

Age: 16

Education: Sophomore at Auburn High School

Residence: Loves Park

Family: Mother and stepfather, Stephanie and Mark Mathews; father, Troy Lawson; brother, Stephaan, 21; and sister, Tahmiah, 5.

My career goals include ... attending Louisiana State University or the University of Phoenix to study crime-scene forensics. I hope to one day work as a forensic scientist.

Age: 22

Education: Graduated May 2009 from Dominican University near Chicago, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in apparel design and minors in apparel merchandising and communications.  Home-schooled and took classes at Rock Valley College.

Job: Fashion designer. I am launching my namesake clothing line, m.c.c.

City of residence: I split my time between Chicago and my family’s farm right outside Rockford.

Hometown: Rockford 

Hometown: Rockford

Family: Parents Rajesh and Ann Patel; sisters Shiralee, 22, and Ashay, 16.

In 10 years, I see myself: Practicing either medicine or orthodontics and starting a family.

Being a woman means: Being a compassionate and perceptive person. It means being strong, mentally and emotionally, and using this strength to help others.

A few years after leaving beauty school, Kristin DeHaan and Chrissy Tripodi became teachers themselves — to girls on the other side of the world.

Age: 18

School: Graduated from Guilford High School in 2009; attending Rock Valley College

Hometown: Rockford

Family: Mother, Maria; stepfather, David; sister, Osmara; brothers, David and Diego

In 10 years, I see myself ... as a pediatrician and having a human services degree.

Being a woman means … being strong, independent and responsible.

This issue we continue a feature called Young Rockford Woman. We celebrate the promise of the area's next generation.

This issue we continue a feature called Young Rockford Woman. We celebrate the promise of the area's next generation.

This issue we continue a feature called Young Rockford Woman. We celebrate the promise of the area's next generation.

This issue we continue a feature called Young Rockford Woman. We celebrate the promise of the area's next generation.