Editor's Note
- Angelina Cheng
- Dec 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15
When I first began to imagine Voices Unheard, it was meant to be a personal healing space. I never felt like I belonged in a safe space to share what I had been through, nor did I feel comfortable expressing my emotions openly. Writing became my refuge. Whether through poetry, short stories, or journal entries, creative writing allowed me to process experiences I did not yet have the words to speak aloud. Even then, sharing my work felt daunting. I rarely felt worthy of submitting my writing, and sharing it with loved ones felt just as intimidating.
When I learned that my Writing for the Public course would center on creating a public-facing project, I recognized an opportunity to bring Voices Unheard to life. I knew I was not alone in these feelings. Countless people carry similar stories, having been silenced or having learned to silence themselves. Too often, pain is endured quietly, without acknowledgment or justice.
Voices Unheard exists for anyone who has ever felt that their voice did not matter or that their story was too small to be told. Every story matters, no matter its size. This first issue brings together pieces rooted in each contributor’s personal experiences, forming a collective narrative of survival, reflection, and resilience. From Niaisa Battle’s short poem on the treatment of Black women in society, to Eliana Guerrero’s lengthy poem narrating her life story, to my own poem reflecting on experiencing the same trauma a second time, each piece tells a small part of our lives. My goal is to create a community of survivors, one issue at a time.
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I want to give a special thanks to Dr. William Fitzgerald, the supervisor of this project and the person who gave me the push I needed to finally make this publication into something tangible. I’m grateful to have him as my mentor and advisor for Voices Unheard. I also want to thank both my writers and my public audience, as this publication also wouldn’t be tangible without your contribution and/or support.
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Trigger Warning: This publication contains sensitive content, including, but not limited to, violence, trauma, self-harm, phobias, sexual assault, and death. Please be mindful of these and other triggers before continuing to the subsequent pages.
