“A Moveable Feast,” a memoir by Ernest Hemingway, is about his time in 1920s Paris. In one chapter, Hemingway writes about his struggle to write words down on a blank page. He would tell himself, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know,” and eventually, the words would flow out. Having written The Fordham Ram’s weekly editorial since January, I can relate to Hemingway’s challenge to fill the page, but it is a challenge I have grown to love.
When I was younger, I did not think this way about writing. In middle school, I constantly struggled. Concepts like grammar were difficult for me to comprehend, and I would have to stay after school to get some extra help from the English teacher. My writing skills improved by the time I got to high school, but my confidence as a writer was low. I never thought of publishing something for my classmates to read.
Fordham was where my attitude changed completely. During my first semester, I took English Composition II taught by Professor Eva Freeman. We learned how writing did not just have to be a regular five-paragraph essay with dry language. It could be a medium in which a person could express their thoughts to the world. The greatest gift I gained from that class came from a writer’s workshop. I had written about when I saw a camping tent standing isolated on the prairie grass near the Denver Airport and the impression it left on me. Professor Freeman asked me to share the paragraph with the class, and I reluctantly did. I was surprised when my classmates told me how much they liked it. It had not occurred to me until that day that my writing was something people would want to hear. The confidence in my writing I gained that day was a gift I was not expecting, but one I will always be grateful for.
As my confidence as a writer grew, I craved to write more. About a year later, I started writing for The Fordham Ram’s opinion section. It was nerve-racking submitting my work, but my worries dissipated as soon as I saw my piece published. Eventually, I became an Assistant Opinion Editor for Volume 105 and got to work with a wonderful group of people. While I enjoyed being an editor, I missed writing. When applications for Volume 106 came out, I was drawn to the position of Editorial Director. Writing an article a week seemed challenging, but the idea of writing more enticed me. I ended up applying and was fortunate enough to receive the position.
After almost a year in this role, I could not be happier with my choice. Every week, the editorial board members Sofia Donohue, Allison Schneider, Hannah Boring, Grace Campbell and Grace Miller entrust me to write on their behalf. I have always considered it a great honor and am thankful for the ideas, feedback and encouragement they provide me for each week’s editorial. The Ram has been a significant part of my Fordham experience, and I’ll always look back on the memories I made in room B-52 with fondness.
Writing is difficult, and finding “one true sentence” is even harder. I interpret what Hemingway wrote as a statement not just about writing style, but also the content. To me, a “true sentence” must be sincere and contain a part of yourself. I will be honest and say that being vulnerable in my public writing is still something I struggle with. People can be judgemental, and a mean comment can hurt. Yet when someone dares to write from the heart and share those thoughts and feelings they have gained from their life experiences, it creates the possibility for people from different walks of life to realize the connections they share. In my time at Fordham, I have realized that writing is my self-expression. While writing is strenuous, the sense of accomplishment I get from doing it is why it fulfills me, and I hope to continue writing for the rest of my life.
If I have any advice for the people reading this, it is to find your way of expressing your “one true sentence” with the world. If everyone kept their perspective to themselves, people would never learn or grow, and the world would be boring. Sharing our unique perspective with the world is what makes life exciting, and it is how we connect with others. So write that play, sing that song or perform that interpretive dance. Create something sincere and share your perspective because the world will be a better place for it.
Evan McManus, FCRH ’25, is a political science major and communications minor from Dover, Mass.
