Tansy Rayner Roberts Quotes

Growing up, 'Cosmo' was my lifeline to the world. A world that I wanted to be in but couldn't get to yet.

In secondary school, I became aware of the idea of being cool, and that was a bit of a shell shock.

The donning of the ear buds marks the beginning of teen life, when children set off on their own for the passage through adolescence.

During my 'difficult teens,' I read about worlds that were mysterious.

I just wanted to do something about the teenage experience; it's such a wonderful and horrible time of life.

Who really wants to be themselves when they're teenagers?

I did not have the moments of so-called normal people during adolescence, like going out with friends, enjoying good times.

Every teenager feels like a freak. It's part of being a teenager, part of the individuation from child to adult - those teenage years are who am I? What am I? Where am I going?

I'm interested in youth culture - when your parents are running your life, but you think you're the big man - but I'm not trying to make a statement.

The area of teenage life is not necessarily rarefied; we've all gone through that period. It's not as rarefied as a western or a space adventure or a gangster film, but it has its own dynamic.

I'm glad I went through all the normal teenage dramas that a lot of people go through. I can really relate to 'Secret Life' because I witnessed those similar struggles.

In Ronald Reagan's chaotic childhood, the imagination was armor. There is nothing unusual about that; transcending the doubts, hesitations, and fears swirling around you by casting yourself internally as the hero of your own adventure story is a characteristic psychic defense mechanism of the Boy Who Disappears.

People love teen movies because everyone can relate.

I like writing about teenagers because it's a time of great change and conflict. Up to then, you accept what your parents tell you.

I think everyone feels lost at times during their high school years.

When I wrote my first story, all the characters were teenagers because I think 16, 17 is a great age.

I was 11 years old when I saw the first season of 'The Real World.' Initially, I was drawn to the show because it was what I imagined the adult version of my life should be.

I had a tough time fitting in, as I guess most kids do. I felt like school was kind of a grand opportunity to figure yourself out and to figure out what you wanted.

But, on another level it's really sort of this really cool coming of age story, it reminds me of like The Breakfast Club or something like that, if I can be so bold to associate with The Breakfast Club.

Very intense first summer out, to be 18 years old and never having gone on a date, never having smoked a cigarette, never had a drink, even a sip of beer, never kissed a girl, all of those things. It made for a fairly intense first year out.

Here is a secret that no one has told you: Real life is junior high.

I knew I wanted to make a movie that hadn't really existed in a while in terms of being a teenager.

What self-respecting teenage kid growing up in the U.S. hasn't played Truth or Dare? Before cell phones, we kids spent a lot of time in the same place and actually had to come up with our own entertainment. Truth or Dare was the game of choice to break the ice between the boys and the girls.

I've always found teenagers really interesting. I think they've got so much going on in their lives, so that lends itself really well to fiction because there's so much drama, so much activity, so much growth.

My first three years of high school, I wasn't that cool.