She seems your typical cheer leading, burger-flipping, mall-hiking teenage girl with big aspirations and down-to-earth sensibilities... until you experience her singing and you realize there is nothing commonplace about her voice. She is 16-year-old Katelyn Rose of Pennsylvania and she promises you'll be hearing about her.

"I want the world to know that I exist. I know that sounds funny, but it's something I always think about ... because if everyone knows who I am, they'll listen to my music. All I want to do is connect my music to people, so they know someone's out there that knows how they feel," Katelyn says. If any would scoff, her reply to them is, "Even though I am young, I have experienced a lot of things in my life already- good and bad. I mean every day is a new adventure and something funny happens, or something sad, or strange. The ulcerative colitis that I had when I was younger helped me learn how to relate to others. When I was in the hospital for a while and saw these other really sick kids, I realized that I don't have it so bad.”

"When life gets tough, don't give up, miracles happen, and if you want something bad enough…you'll get it! I have always been an optimistic person, to go through life without regrets. Learn from your mistakes and move on, because life is way too short to worry about what you did yesterday. Live each moment to the fullest," she expresses. "I hope I don't sound like a fortune cookie."

She doesn't need to crack one open, however, to know that there is much success in store for her and the number of her days are all lucky, even if she has to make her own luck. "In the future, I would love to see myself as a big performer or actress, someone all kids can look up to. Right now, my career is going great. I have been working on my first album in Nashville with some great people. I start recording in February 2009. As of right now, I am focusing on practice and picking the songs I want on my CD. If that doesn't work out, because you should always have a back up plan, I would like to be an undercover spy, part of crime scene investigations, or a counselor."

Katelyn already has many of the qualities of a shrink, minimizing the worries and frustrations of her generation through music that tell them they're not alone and somehow everything will turn out for the best. "My music is fun, sentimental, relatable, and powerful- music to just listen to when you’re hanging out with your friends. Not only are they good songs for girls, but also boys. They relate to everyone and get the message out."

The beginnings of this message began in a booster seat from the lungs of a little girl who just couldn't contain it. From then on, it continued to grow. "When I was three years old, I would just pick up on songs and be able to sing through all of them- no problem. I remember I was in the car; I must have been around four or five, and Christina Aguilera's song 'Reflection' came on. I just started belting it out. My brothers turned around and I saw my parents (Karen & Duane) in the front seats look at each other, kind of in shock. My family has been very supportive of my singing and I'm grateful to them for that.”

"When I was nine years old, my parents got a divorce, which was pretty hard on the whole family. It taught me how to be a stronger person.” She continues, "Then my mom got remarried to a man named Jim. He is actually the U.S. congressman in our area. He has three kids, and so does my mom, including me, so there were six of us kids- Joel, Jay, and me, and then Katie, Jimmy, and Robby. We all get along pretty good. Currently, I am living as an only child because all my siblings are off at their new jobs and college. I used to work at the local Dairy Queen, but, now, I am applying for better jobs. I am a bit preoccupied with my music career now. My life right now requires school, dancing, acting, and singing lessons."

"I started out local for three years with an amazing teacher named Kelly. We usually sang religious songs, which I loved, but I knew I wanted to go in a different path with my voice. One day, I brought in a Carrie Underwood karaoke CD and asked to sing if for her. Kelly was impressed with my ability and power, which she did not realize is in my voice and, as hard as it was for her, she told me there was nothing else she could for me. She recommended me to Sal Dupree, a well-known entertainer and vocal coach on the East Coast. I have been training with him for a year and half now."

It's uncommon to see such dedication amongst those her age, but to Katelyn, music is her purpose, her love, and her life. "I sing because it’s my way of freeing myself, instead of talking about things, and it’s a passion of mine. When I feel down, I just go and practice and practice and practice. Or, when I get a bad grade or something, I turn to my music and realize I have other dreams and that I cannot be good at everything. Music means a lot to me, more than anything. I write papers at school about it and it’s always on my mind. And when I am in a place where I can't sing out loud, I listen to my ipod. It's my world."