Q: The American Idol journey is about pushing your limits and improving and upping your game every week and you seemed to be doing that through the whole show. Were you consciously trying to improve upon past weeks or was it a natural result of the experience?

A: I consider myself a hard worker and I’m always rehearsing. I’m always trying to improve and when I first entered the competition I was really in a little shell and resting vocally and it kind of separated me from everybody else so I don’t feel like I was at my best with the negative mind-frame that I was in. I was so focused on “Nobody really sees who I am” and that hurt my performance. Once I got my mind right again like it was at the beginning of the competition I just became more comfortable with myself. The feeling of being completely overlooked subsided and I just enjoyed myself more every week. I separated that fine line between overworking and doing so much that you’re not focused and not enjoying yourself and doing enough and trusting yourself, letting go, and taking it all in. My goal every week was to feel satisfied after every show.

Q: I won’t ask you to pick, but what do you think is professional about each of the David’s? What do they each have individually?

A: Well David Archuleta has that smile and he has a really good connection with the younger audience and David Cook has that connection with the younger audience as well. The girls go crazy over him as well as the older the older women. I was like the big sister and the little sister to both Davids. Women would say “Oh David Cook, I love you so much…..Syesha…..Syesha…….could you tap him on the shoulder and get his attention for me?”

Q: Paula said on Tuesday that you sang a song that didn’t define who you were. In your mind, who exactly are you as an artist?

A: I’m a mix of a lot of things. I think that’s why people were like “Oh she’s Broadway”. I’m just like a black Christina Aguilera or a black Alesha Keys. I see myself putting together a Christina Aguilera album like the one she recently did and the Alesha Keys album like the The Diary Of Alesha Keys. I like pop, and I like R&B, and I like old-school musical things. I’m growing as an artist. I’m evolving and I’m glad that I did do American Idol and I’m still learning about myself every day. I think that’s the beauty of doing this competition. You can learn so much.

Q: Last week you compared the civil rights movement to your own experience at Idol through that Sam Cooke song and some people thought that was an odd comparison. Could you clarify exactly what you meant by that?

A: The thing is before I do any song I do research on the song. I write down what the song means to me and then I go through the whole “What am I going to wear”, etc. But I definitely do my research. There’s a lot of meaning behind that song for Sam Cook and when it came out it was during the civil rights movement. The song is like a signature song for the movement but for me it meant something different. It took on a total different meaning. That’s why I brought it up, because it touched me. It came out during a transitional time in history and this is a transitional time for me in my life and so it took on a different meaning for me.

Q: What did you learn from your experience on American Idol?

A: Wow. I learned a lot. I’ve learned that there is a fine line between over-rehearsing and over-working and doing what you need to do and trusting in yourself, letting go, and let it be the way it is. Because I worked so hard every week I wasn’t able to enjoy myself. So I’ve learned how to relax. I’ve learned ways to deal with stress. I’ve learned ways on how to prepare for a performance.

Q: What was the best piece of advice you received and who was it from?

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A: Well as far as American Idol goes and mentors it would be Andrew Lloyd Weber because that was my shining moment on the stage and he really encouraged me to perform the song the way that I wanted to perform it. Once it was totally animated it kind of helped me to be myself because I am kind of crazy. He helped me to break out of my shell.

Q: I was struck by your Dad’s comments last night when he was talking about his problem with alcohol and drugs. Was this going on in the house when you were there and how did this shape you as a person?

A: For me, it made me the strong person that I am. Having my Dad struggle through that made me really really sad through a lot of my life. But it actually made me understand people more. I told myself I’m not going to let this determine what my future is going to be and I’m going to help my Dad and be there for him. I’m going to make him proud so that he wants to make me proud. It’s a beautiful story to tell.

Q: You have a very strong work ethic and some of that is from that as a kid. When trouble was round you learned to focus on what you were doing right?

A: Yes. I was always a busy body in school. Mom my always said that it would pay off in the long run and it did. It really did.

Q: What are your plans after Idol and after the tour wraps?
A: I’m really goal oriented so I know whatever goal I set it will be accomplished. I want to make an album. I want to do Broadway. I want to open an organic restaurant. It just depends on what comes first.

Q: Are you going to start any wedding planning with your fiancé any time soon?

A: I’m the type of person who lives in the now so what’s going on now, that’s what I’m going to take care of. He’s so supportive and we have a mutual understanding about everything so we will plan things when the time is right.

Q: Because you made that bottom three so often how do you deal with that roller coaster ride? Were you packing your bags every week?

A: Every week is new and I never packed my bags. They told us to pack our bags but I was like “I’m not packing my bags – I’m not ready to go home yet”. I think if you want something it’s going to happen to you. If you want to be in the top three, you’re going to get to the top three. If you want to win, you’re going to win. Whoever is the most passionate is going to win. Whichever David is the most passionate is going to win. The way I dealt with that was I called my family a lot and they really helped me be calm and told me things that helped me when I was on that stage. You just become stronger.

Q: I wanted to know what did the David’s say to you on the stage after the results were announced?

A: Ummmm……I don’t remember.

Q: Do you have intentions on acting?

A: Of course. I’ve said it time and time again, I’m goal-oriented and I want to do everything. Make an album. Do Broadway. Do film.

Q: Who’s someone you would like to act opposite?

A: I don’t know off the top of my head.

Q: What was it like to get this close and not quite get to the finals?

A: To me, I made it. I think anybody who’s on the show has made it. For me, it was very special making it to the top three. So I made it to me in my eyes. I made a goal, and I got there and I’m very very happy. Only great things can come from here on out.

Q: What did you think about the song you were given to sing by the producers?

A: Well, I had heard it before. But you know, it’s not like I could change it so I had to kind of make the best of it. I’m very optimistic and positive and whenever something kind of comes in my way I try to say “what can I do to turn this into something positive”?

Q: At what point did you get the feeling that the finale would be the Davids?

A: Probably the night before. When I got the judges comments I felt that at this point in the game I couldn’t have those kind of bad comments so I accepted what was and I moved on. I don’t feel defeated. I don’t feel like I’ve failed. I feel like I grew a lot and I showed America a lot of different sides of me.

Q: Do you have any closing remarks?

A: I’m just thankful to have had this experience and I appreciate all my fans and I would not have made it this far without all the support. I’m ready to take on the world! I’m really excited about working and I am ready!