Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Professional Writing
Department
Department of English
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Anna Weinstein
Second Advisor
Aaron Levy
Abstract
This original coming-of-age drama pilot follows two teenagers from different socioeconomic backgrounds whose lives intertwine in Atlanta, Georgia. Elton, a restless young man, gets caught up in the middle of a murder after watching his best friend die due to gun violence. Charity, a privileged young girl, struggles to heal from the grief surrounding her parents' unexpected death. As both enroll in a new private school, they eventually cross paths and learn similar mental and emotional parallels they share.
Set in the urban streets of Atlanta, this storyline explores themes of grief, identity, and survivor’s guilt. While Elton tries to solve his friend’s murder, external forces like the police and gang members are constantly threatening his livelihood. Charity struggles internally with insomnia, drugs, and declining mental health. Their connection becomes a way for them to process their past trauma as they continue facing personal hardships.
Through a character-driven and dual-perspective structure, Parallels studies how grief, class, and environment can shape a young person’s mindset and identity. Most importantly, this project highlights that even though two people come from different upbringings, they can be similar in various ways.