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!

Photos: Yu Tsai

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