When MIRIAM McDONALD was five years old, she wanted to be a doctor. But now, at 18, she's pursuing a drastically different career path.

"I guess I just started to know myself better," she says. "The whole 'doctor thing' was more to please my parents."

Once the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" star tasted the thrill of being on stage, she was hooked. "I loved the rush I got from performing," explains Miriam, who started out as a dancer. And though acting the part of Emma Nelson is sometimes a challenge, she still gets that same surge of excitement on the job.

"She's not the typical, bubbly, popular high school girl, but she knows what she wants -- she's determined and passionate," Miriam says of her character. And beyond being only a year older than Emma in real life (Miriam completed her senior year last spring), the two have a lot in common. "The way we go about things is similar, and our passion is something we share," she says. "When we know what we want, we go full force to get it."

While this teen sensation may not have had the same real-world experience as the average high schooler, she did get a good feel for it.

"A lot of my friends go to regular high school, so that helps," she says. "And the [independent actors'] school I was at was part of a regular school, so I got a sense of the real high school experience walking through the halls and the cafeteria."

So is a college education on the agenda for this rising star? "I would definitely be interested in taking college classes -- maybe something to do with film or possibly philosophy."

And when it comes to achieving dreams, Miriam advises teens everywhere to never give up. "If you love it, stick with it."

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