Genes — it’s all their fault. Mine have unkindly arranged themselves to create a Natalie Chang* who is (and has always been) short, freckled, and abnormally sweaty-palmed. I can’t count the number of times a younger version of myself slyly slipped on my mom’s high heels and strutted around the house, feeling tall at long last — only to take off those magical heels and once again become squat. Nor can I quantify the terrible cringe that would cripple...

I color butterflies. Officially, they call me a Science Connections Intern at the Lawrence Hall of Science, but lately almost all I do is color, smile, explain. Bright eyes light on me and a little girl holds up a crayon, squealing, “Miss, can you help me color this one? I want it to look like the crystal butterfly in Cinderella!” I grin and grasp the crayon, meticulously shading in one wing of the butterfly, leading as she follows along on...