October 2002

By Lauren Brown

"I was always getting grounded in high school," says Avril Lavigne. "I'd come home and go straight to my room, so I'd write." Her songs are all about the stuff everyone lives through in high school: jerky boyfriends, getting teased, and duking it out with your parents. "I'm a little fighter," she says. "I stand up for what I believe in." In high school, she was one of the more intimidating girls in her group of skater-punk friends. "It must have been the way I carried myself, because I was smaller than everyone," Avril says. "It's funny that the group you hang out with and the clothes you wear can really scare people."

Avril, who calls herself an "old soul," is also an opinionated soul, and her message to fans is not to take crap from anyone. She's also a big believer in sticking to your principles and standing up for yourself. While she was recording her album, she refused help from experienced producers if she felt they didn't get her vision for her songs. "They wanted to guide me, but I had to lead, so it was more me in the song," she says. "I don't like people putting their lyrics to my songs. I want them to be MY lyrics." With songs that expose her personal life, that's that's easy to understand. "The things I sing about, I'm over by now." Avril says. "But when I play those songs, I hope I can help a listener who's in a similar situation."