Kelli Berglund on the biggest misconception people have about child actors

Child actors oftentimes can be met with a lot of harsh criticism. But ask any one of them and they'll probably tell you the same thing: at the end of the day, they're just normal people. If anyone understands this sentiment, it's Kelli Berglund.

The California-native has been around in the acting industry for the past 10 years, scoring high profile roles on Disney Channel -- most notably her 4 year long stint on the hit show "Lab Rats." She also was the first in her family to dive into the business, going into her newfound career with little to no knowledge beforehand. Because of that, she's had to navigate the tricky waters of child acting completely solo. That's a feat that even most adults may find tough to handle. But Berglund isn't the kind of actor who is going to let her age or experience weigh her down. And after speaking with her about her burgeoning career, it's clear that her passion for all things acting is unparalleled.

On the heels of the release of her new film "Raising the Bar," we spoke to Kelli Berglund about the biggest misconception people have about child actors, who her biggest role model in the industry is, and more!

YouShouldKnow is a feature that showcases up-and-coming social stars. To see more of past interviews, click here. And head over to AOL.com at 6 p.m. ET for more exclusives on Kelli Berglund!

Who has been you biggest role model or mentor in the entertainment industry?
I mean there's so many actors and actresses that I look up to. But I think for me personally, it would have to be Hal Sparks from my show. He's always been a mentor to all of us because he is the adult on set -- even though he is more of a kid than we are. But he's been in the business forever and I can't tell you how many times I've had in my life where I'm really frustrated and I turn to him. He's a man of many talents and he has a great balance in life, so I always go to him in advice not only in the entertainment industry but also in life.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about child actors?
I mean a lot of people think that we're not real people and they just see who we are on TV and assume we're a certain way. We're held to very high standards. You have to remember that we are regular people and all child actors, I mean I can't speak for everyone, but most of us just want to pursue our dreams and do what we love while also maintaining a regular life. That's why I have a part of my life where I can just be me. We're regular people who want to fit in like everyone else. And there's a lot going on behind the scenes that people don't see all the time -- but I wish they could.

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You mentioned that you started out your career gravitating towards drama. Is that where your career going in the next few years?
Yeah! I've always loved drama and growing up I always gravitated towards the more dramatic auditions than the more comedic auditions but after being on the show for so many years, I've learned comedic timing so I really love comedy now. I have been doing it for so long that I would like to take a step outside of that for the next few years and focus on dramatic films. I want to focus on intense, awesome scripts. I love films and television but I really see myself doing that. I'm so open to anything and everything and I'm down to play a character who is outside of anything that I've ever done and I'm also so down to play a girl who is kind of an normal girl and who has to experience the real hardships of life. I want to really push myself.

What's the one piece of advice you wish you had received before becoming an actor?
Like I said before, my family hasn't been in the business and I had to figure a lot on my own so I had no idea what to expect. I've heard no 98% of the time during my additions that I've ever been on in my life. There's one job for every 150 auditions -- it could be that many. As a young little girl, hearing that so many times really made me upset. I just assumed everyone didn't like me. There's a reason why it's a job and it's not up to me. Maybe they wanted someone a little taller or someone with a different hair color, and I can't change that about myself, so you have to know that it wasn't meant to be. And there's a great job waiting for you in the future.

YouShouldKnow is a feature that showcases up-and-coming social stars. To see more of past interviews, click here. And head over to AOL.com at 12 p.m. ET for more exclusives on Kelli Berglund!

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