Sarah Hyland's Doctors Says She Would Not Have Normal Life

Sarah Hyland shows off her pearly whites on the cover of Seventeen magazine’s May 2015 issue, out on newsstands on April 21!

Here’s what the 24-year-old actress had to share with the mag:

On happiness: “Happiness, I’ve learned, comes from within. I am happiest when I am doing something I love. And I love Modern Family � it’s the best job I’ve had in my 20 years as an actress. It didn’t come easily or fast or free: It took me 14 years to land a gig like this.”

On perseverance: “I was born with so many health issues that doctors told my mother I would never have a normal life. And she said, ‘You’re right, she won’t � but it won’t be because of her health.’ When my mother told me that story, it resonated with me: If I can’t have an ordinary life, I might as well have an extraordinary one. If you set your mind to something, you’ll achieve it.”

On moving forward: “When you’re feeling vulnerable, it can lead to doubt and second-guessing. It will steer you away from your goals and your happiness. Once you have a goal, keep moving forward � even if you’re taking baby steps!”

For more on Sarah, visit Seventeen.com!