By Rachel Neglia

For all of my time at De Equitibus, I have tried to avoid writing in the first person. As this is my last article for De Equitibus, though, I feel I ought to share my personal experience on the De Equitibus staff.

Over my four years of writing for this excellent publication, I have authored over 20 articles and edited many more. Although the work amounts to a maximum of three hours per month, my writing has greatly improved since my freshman year. I have learned much about writing even outside of the classroom – most particularly how to edit and structure information and how to write non-academic material. Having articles printed hundreds of times and distributed to the whole school certainly incentivizes good writing.

The quality of my writing has improved over the years, but my efficiency has also increased; I can write an article in under an hour. I’m sure this skill will serve me well in college.

Interviewing for my articles has equipped me with networking skills, through which I have met many fascinating people in the Tempe Prep community. From artistic parents who have traveled to North Korea to teachers who have conducted pertinent research that has influenced policy in Washington, DC, to students attending prestigious colleges, I have learned much that I wouldn’t have without writing for the newspaper. Who knew that TPA teachers and students could lead such interesting lives? I certainly did not until I started investigating.

De Equitibus has been an invaluable supplement to my TPA education, and if I were to repeat high school, I would choose to write for the school newspaper again. I want to thank Mr. Schuster for the years he has dedicated to De Equitibus and Tempe Prep. I encourage all students to consider joining our newspaper staff!