I remember approaching our principal, Mr. Jimenez, towards the end of my freshman year and asking him about starting a school newspaper. He told me someone was already doing it and that I would hear about it next year. My sophomore year I attended the first meeting held by Kiara Ventura, our first Editor-in-Chief. I was excited about the possibilities of growth and discovery as a member of the school newspaper.
Two meetings into the club, I told Kiara and our former club facilitator, Carol Cooper, that I wanted to be co-editor. Overconfident and naive, I really believed that I could tackle the responsibilities of an editor. I was given the role of copy editor.
Fast-forward 2 years from my first meeting with the club. I find myself Editor-in-Chief of our award-winning newspaper. I cannot begin to explain the inspiration I feel when I meet with our writers. Their dedication and intellectual curiosity encourages me to be the best Editor-in-Chief I can be and makes the long nights of editing worth it. The writers of the MCSM Rampage have taught me more than I could teach them. They have taught me resilience, dedication and empathy. They have provided insight into the world of busy AP students, student athletes or students who truly want to do 100 extracurricular activities. They have written moving articles that have given me appreciation for the power of words, writing and the relationships between human beings.
From my humble beginnings as copy editor and reporter, the Rampage has made incredible strides towards becoming a force to be reckoned with. Our math and science geniuses have shown time and time again their versatility in the various disciplines our schools has to offer. From launching our bilingual supplement to featuring poets and fiction writers, the Rampage continues to develop into an impressive publication. We went from a staff of 6 writers to a staff of over 30 contributing writers.
I have loved reading stories about music artists like JCole, laughing at stories about men being just as complicated as women and crying about poems about systemic racism. Our writers are truly dedicated towards building the Rampage name and giving a journalistic voice to our school.
The Rampage would not have been possible without the tremendous support from our principal, Mr. Jimenez, who is always willing to support us in all our endeavors. I am also grateful for the invaluable work Carol Cooper did for us when she was here. We hope to see her again. Ms. Amendola and PEN volunteer Jesse Kornbluth also provide amazing support in helping keep the Rampage alive.
I look forward to another year of funny, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking articles. Whether it is through photographs, poems or comic strips, I want the voice of the MCSM student body to be heard. The Rampage is a creative space of exploration and discovery for all, writer or not. Working with the gifted photographers, artists and amazing people that populate the MCSM Rampage Newspaper Club has truly been a blessing. I cannot wait to continue working towards a better Rampage.
-Roberta Nin Feliz, Editor-in-Chief