--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish when I was 15 that I realized my…" description: "\"I wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was important and that even my thoughts and my opinions had value. Had I known, I probably would've spoke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/angie-thomas-2699_opinions_i-wish-when-i-was-15-that-i-realized-my_1813482.jpg" --- # I wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was… ![“I wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was important and that even my thoughts and my opinions had value. Had I known, I probably would've spoken up more. I probably would've found my activism sooner and become a writer sooner.” quote by Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/angie-thomas-2699_opinions_i-wish-when-i-was-15-that-i-realized-my_1813482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/angie-thomas-2699_opinions_i-wish-when-i-was-15-that-i-realized-my_1813482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/angie-thomas-2699_opinions_i-wish-when-i-was-15-that-i-realized-my_1813482.jpg) > “I wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was important and that even my thoughts and my opinions had value. Had I known, I probably would've spoken up more. I probably would've found my activism sooner and become a writer sooner.” [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator regrets not recognizing her voice’s value earlier, wishing she’d spoken up and become an activist and writer sooner. **In simple terms:** Realizing the importance of one’s voice early. Key Takeaway Speak up and act on your convictions. Themes self‑esteem activism voice growth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - school debates - community organizing - writing workshops Key Concepts empowerment social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can youth be encouraged to find their voice? A Different Perspective What barriers prevented earlier self‑advocacy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism Sooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism-sooner-2135064/) [Important Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-thoughts-795816/) [Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions/) [Sooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voice Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-important-902588/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Writer Sooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-sooner-2135065/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Food is the most important influence on your health. It is even more important than your thoughts and emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/food-is-the-most-important-influence-on-your-health-it-is-even-more/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [Our most important thoughts are those that contradict our emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/our-most-important-thoughts-are-those-that-contradict-our-emotions/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a defeatist or negative thought. Since we create through thought, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realized-how-powerful-your-thoughts-are-you-would-never-think/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“Psychological and spiritual components are as important or more important for you . Thoughts and feelings can change neurochemistry , just as chemistry can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talitha-day-fair/psychological-and-spiritual-components-are-as-important-or-more/) [Talitha Day Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talitha-day-fair/) > [“Studies have indicated that the tone of voice may be more important than any other element in our response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/studies-have-indicated-that-the-tone-of-voice-may-be-more-important/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [Those who seek to improve our country through peaceful protest and protected speech, I want you to know that your voice is important. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynch/those-who-seek-to-improve-our-country-through-peaceful-protest-and/) [Loretta Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynch/) > [The technology has improved so much so quickly that voice is now an important mechanism in our lives. Artificial intelligence contributes to that, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shapiro/the-technology-has-improved-so-much-so-quickly-that-voice-is-now-an/) [Gary Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shapiro/) > [It's important to have a voice; it's more important to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/it-s-important-to-have-a-voice-it-s-more-important-to-use-it/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [People spend a lot of time talking and thinking about how members of the opposite sex look, but very little time paying attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/people-spend-a-lot-of-time-talking-and-thinking-about-how-members-of/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [“The written word has its limits and its challenges, for the primal sound in the whole world is that made by the human voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-d-spence/the-written-word-has-its-limits-and-its-challenges-for-the-primal/) [Jonathan D. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-d-spence/) > [Being an advocate and a voice was very important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/being-an-advocate-and-a-voice-was-very-important-to-me/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [I know it might seem a little superficial, but every actor has their thing. Some people focus on the walk, but for me, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/i-know-it-might-seem-a-little-superficial-but-every-actor-has-their/) [Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/) > [For me the voice is the most important, but making your singing believable makes a great performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollie-cavanagh/for-me-the-voice-is-the-most-important-but-making-your-singing/) [Hollie Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hollie-cavanagh/) > [I don't enjoy hearing the sound of my voice. The most important things for me are impossible to articulate extemporaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-baker/i-don-t-enjoy-hearing-the-sound-of-my-voice-the-most-important-things/) [Annie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-baker/) > [My mentor made me say a poem over and over. 'Stop! That's not your voice. Start again.' I was sobbing by the end, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/my-mentor-made-me-say-a-poem-over-and-over-stop-that-s-not-your-voice/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) ## More by Angie Thomas > [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“For real?” I say what I’m supposed to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/for-real-i-say-what-i-m-supposed-to/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I think that the more of us who take the time to understand how someone else is feeling, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/i-think-that-the-more-of-us-who-take-the-time-to-understand-how/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [The transition from unknown to known-in-publishing has been empowering but also challenging. It's an honor to know that people actually want to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-transition-from-unknown-to-known-in-publishing-has-been/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I really do hope 'The Hate U Give' provides mirrors for readers who don't often get them in books. I've had so many young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/i-really-do-hope-the-hate-u-give-provides-mirrors-for-readers-who-don/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Slave masters thought they were making a difference in black people’s lives too. Saving them from their “wild African ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/slave-masters-thought-they-were-making-a-difference-in-black-people-s/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [As a black woman, I feel like I have a unique experience that we don't often see in media portrayals of the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/as-a-black-woman-i-feel-like-i-have-a-unique-experience-that-we-don-t/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Who the fuck complains about going to Harry Potter World? Or Butter Beer? Or wands?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/who-the-fuck-complains-about-going-to-harry-potter-world-or-butter/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“With King Lords, we had a whole bunch of folks who had our backs, no matter what. They bought us clothes and shit our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/with-king-lords-we-had-a-whole-bunch-of-folks-who-had-our-backs-no/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I wanted to write a book like a rapper would write it - I didn't want to hold back. Rappers catch a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/i-wanted-to-write-a-book-like-a-rapper-would-write-it-i-didn-t-want/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [Bent Literary Agency had a Q&A on Twitter, and I took a chance and asked if the Black Lives Matter movement was an appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/bent-literary-agency-had-a-q-a-on-twitter-and-i-took-a-chance-and/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Has this situation made you fearful of cops?" she eventually asks. "I don't know," I say truthfully. "My uncle's a cop. I know not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/has-this-situation-made-you-fearful-of-cops-she-eventually-asks-i-don/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [My maternal grandmother was a star on her high school basketball team in small-town Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/my-maternal-grandmother-was-a-star-on-her-high-school-basketball-team/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Now I am that person, and I’m too afraid to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/now-i-am-that-person-and-i-m-too-afraid-to-speak/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [Representation makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/representation-makes-a-difference/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) [Explore all 153 Angie Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) ## More Opinions quotes > [I do have opinions. Fortunately, I neither Twitter nor Facebook. My daughter forbids me to go on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-do-have-opinions-fortunately-i-neither-twitter-nor-facebook-my/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [Of course when you voice your opinions, there are going to be negative things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/of-course-when-you-voice-your-opinions-there-are-going-to-be-negative/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I have my own opinions; you can have your own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-my-own-opinions-you-can-have-your-own-opinions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the end, the whole Internet thing kills me, because you can use it as a positive thing or you can read into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/in-the-end-the-whole-internet-thing-kills-me-because-you-can-use-it/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [Opinions are opinions. I don't mind being a part of one, negative or positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/opinions-are-opinions-i-don-t-mind-being-a-part-of-one-negative-or/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [I was never looking to be popular. The trade-off for me in seeking other people's opinions is the potential to help that you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cuomo/i-was-never-looking-to-be-popular-the-trade-off-for-me-in-seeking/) [Chris Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cuomo/) > [People can have their opinions about everything in the world, but people's opinions end where the tip of my nose begins. Your opinions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-can-have-their-opinions-about-everything-in-the-world-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Even good opinions are worth very little unless we hold them in the broad, intelligent, and spacious way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morley/even-good-opinions-are-worth-very-little-unless-we-hold-them-in-the/) [John Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morley/) > [I could sit down and give USADA my opinions on it, but I want to say they've done a great job. Guys like me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-could-sit-down-and-give-usada-my-opinions-on-it-but-i-want-to-say/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [The nature of television is that it's a beast with a lot of opinions. I don't consider myself typecast any more than Neil Patrick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaleel-white/the-nature-of-television-is-that-it-s-a-beast-with-a-lot-of-opinions/) [Jaleel White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaleel-white/) > [Actors live dependent on being validated by other people's opinions. I don't understand what it is I do that people want. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/actors-live-dependent-on-being-validated-by-other-people-s-opinions-i/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [My personal opinions on any subject are really not relevant, not important, and to the extent that I might inject them, I am acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-trump-barry/my-personal-opinions-on-any-subject-are-really-not-relevant-not/) [Maryanne Trump Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-trump-barry/) [Browse all 1,648 Opinions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was important and that even my thoughts and my opinions had value. Had I known, I probably would've spoken up more. 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