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Jessica Sheppard

Updated Wed. Jun. 18 2008 11:39 AM ET

Jessica Sheppard has a pretty good idea what it takes to be the next Canadian Idol. "It will take a lot of focus, and it's a challenge that I'm willing to overcome and take head on."

Jessica is definitely not a stranger to overcoming challenges. Last season, in one of the most tense moments of Canadian Idol's Top 100 eliminations, Jessica was the last competitor cut before the Top 22 reveal.

She raised the bar of her performances this year, learning from her experience in Season 5 in order to earn her spot in this year's Top 24. "I laid it all out on the line and gave the judges everything I held back the previous year," she says. "I realized that I had nothing to lose and only a dream to gain. How could I give them anything less?"

Jessica is currently a college student studying to become a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, choosing her studies as a way to reach out and help people who are in a difficult place in their lives. Jessica also finds that her singing gives her the opportunity to be a positive influence on those around her. "I want to become a singer so that I can reach people on a different level, to show them that they're unique and beautiful, and inspire them if they've lost faith."

When it comes to musical tastes, Celine Dion and Luther Vandross are among her favourites, as well as Mariah Carey, whose classic song "Hero" has been an inspiration for her since she first heard it. When not singing, Jessica spends most of her free time eating all kinds of foods.

Jessica has taken a lot of time to reflect upon what being in the Top 24 means to her. "This competition has changed me for the better," she says. "I finally have a chance to be what I've always wished. It's like a dream come true."