If you’re still mourning Allison Iraheta’s departure from American Idol on Wednesday, you’ll be pleased to know that she’s doing just fine. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to be on that stage,” she said during a press conference yesterday. “It’s been a long ride,” added the 17-year-old, who has handled instant fame like an old pro. Here are some of the show’s highlights that she shared with us yesterday:

Favorite judgement:
“I really like the fact that they said that I was different. Because I’ve stayed true to myself.”

Standing up to Simon:
“I was like, alright, I’m not who you are saying I am, and I’m not boring, first of all, and you say I don’t talk enough, so I might as well just talk! I felt it was the perfect timing for me to come in.”

Mom as chaperone:
“I was very lucky to have her with me the whole time. She was just very supportive, and she knew that when I was singing it was a whole different story and she was like, ‘alright, I’ll let you do what you gotta do.”

Her “little sister” relationship with the guys:
“We’re really just like a family, it was really great. And they would really stand up for me, and the cool thing is that they would help me with song choice, and we would all help each other.”

Singing in Spanish:
“I definitely want to bring back what I started doing. I started singing in Spanish. That would be great.”

Farewall song:
“It felt so different because I felt ‘they’re not going to judge me on this’ so I’ll do whatever and give it my all . . . I do not regret doing that song or anything I did. I feel good about it.”