Hello! My name is Cora Margaret Sgaramella, and I am a 12th grade student at the Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA. Though I grew up in Pennsylvania, far from the Graeco-Roman world, I spent a lot of my life surrounded by the classics. From learning to speak Italian with family on vacations to Rome, to visiting ruins of ancient Greece through PBS Kids programming, I always had an affinity for antiquity.

In the fall of 2025, I had the unique opportunity to design and pursue my own course of study under a faculty advisor.

‘No Sound’ is the culmination of that semester of work, as well as the years of readings and writings that preceded it. Through this collection of works, I hope to show how classical influences and meanings can shape ours today.

The book is divided into three main categories: Sappho, Tragedy, and Women in Antiquity. The categories mirror the structure of my Independent Study’s curriculum, so I sort of take the reader through my course with me.

Throughout my process, I again and again was faced with the clear truth that the lessons and meanings you procure from an ancient writer are still just lessons about being a person. That is my biggest takeaway from all of this. You can still reflect their light, even from thousands of years ago, onto your own life. The idea that something written centuries ago continues to evoke deep feeling across a wide readership captivates me. These poems and essays question that universality and enduring appeal of the classics.

Poetry and writing transcend time, and connect us in ways we cannot begin to know the full extent of. I hope to put words to that intersection of history and literature to deepen people’s respect for the classical influences all around them in a way that feels relatable and attainable.

I am beyond honored and humbled to have the opportunity to share my perspective with readers.