Final answer:
Angie Thomas was inspired by her unique perspective in college, understanding that her different experiences could contribute to literature. Influential readings and parental influences deeply shaped her desire and approach to writing, encouraging her to express her personal narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
Angie Thomas' experiences as a student profoundly influenced her writing career. In college, she had an epiphany that she was different from her peers, which spurred her to write about her own experience. Thomas realized that her unique perspective was a strength that could give voice to the voiceless. Her writing style, which blends poetry and prose, was developed to express these experiences. Furthermore, reading authors like Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye led to a mental shift in Thomas's perception of literature, embracing the idea that nonwhite narratives are an essential part of the literary landscape. She recognized that her personal experiences as a black woman were not only valid but necessary stories to be told. Reflecting on the influence of her parents, as depicted in A House of My Own: Stories from My Life, Thomas acknowledges how her mother's unhappiness and her father's expectations pushed her towards becoming a writer, as she sought to gain his approval and create a life beyond her origins. This self-reflection and acknowledgment of social and cultural influences are evident in her works.