As I gaze off into the dripping heat, I think about the newest book I bought from the local peddler. A novel by a new woman author, named Mary Shelley. It is about Galvanism, and my tutor would pitch a fit if he knew. The Savannah heat is so unbearable that I am fairly certain I might faint in my new gown and bonnet and cause a terrible scene. But just when I think I am about to lose my...

Music has captivated me ever since I first bopped my head to the Bob Marley music my father played over dinner. Since then, my relationship with music has flourished. I have had the opportunity to perform with numerous music ensembles, but one group affected my musical development more than the others. I am the front woman for my school’s rock band, Eclipse. As a member, I have performed for various audiences, from the student body to the Grammy Foundation,...