It is somewhat of a tradition at The Fordham Ram to use the last editorial of the semester to offer up some suggestions for fun (and sometimes useful) things students can do during their upcoming summer vacations. It’s a topic that always feels a little needed, as no matter how many times you are forced to make the transition from school life back to the real world, there’s always a good chance that you find yourself repeatedly asking the question — “Well, what do I do now?” It even feels a little more needed this year, considering The Ram has spent the last four-ish months reporting on just how extremely bleak everything in the world seems to be; the least that we could do right now is to call for some fun and whimsy! Thus, in the name of both tradition and trying to actually bring something positive to the table when everyone needs it the most, The Ram would like to present its 2025 summer to-do list:
I) Go see a baseball game — Whether you like baseball or not, it is simply undeniable that going to see a ballgame is the quintessential summer activity. In fact, going out to your local minor or major league ballpark is not even really about enjoying the game itself, although that could certainly be something that happens. No, it is instead about eating copious amounts of hot dogs and Cracker Jacks, watching the amber sun disappear behind the outfield bleachers and making small talk with the strangers sitting around you. There’s simply nothing like it.
II) Take a hike! — No, seriously… Get out of here and go experience that one thing that New York City really does not have: the natural world. There is something so therapeutic about leaving everything behind — work, family, the mainstream media cycle of perpetual doom — and traversing a path less-traveled. In fact, the hike does not even have to be anything serious — nobody at The Ram is demanding that a Fordham University flag be planted at the pinnacle of some jagged mountain peak. All that really matters is that you unplug and just take some time to be with a friend, a canine companion or your own thoughts amidst the splendor of the natural world.
III) Learn to cook — With all the newfound free time that comes with summer vacation, you might as well do something productive. Learning to cook is guaranteed to be that perfect “something,” as learning how to make a good variety of dishes will give you a new life skill that is sure to make everything easier, from eating healthier to impressing partners on first dates. It will also reap a number of short-term benefits. After all, you get to eat all the good food that you make while practicing and learning.
IV) Read a book (at least attempt to) — Seeing as The Ram is populated by an innumerable number of English majors, reading had to appear somewhere on our summer to-do list. While an entire article could be dedicated to the psychological and intellectual benefits of reading, all that really needs to be said is that there is simply nothing like the act of lying down in a sunlit room and getting lost in the pages of a good book. Reading just provides anything that anyone could ever want — emotional catharsis, a place to escape to, a sense of accomplishment and a way to impress everybody by looking pretentious and mysterious.
V) Stay politically aware and motivated — While it may be tempting to try and use the summertime as a detox from anything serious, the reality is that our current political climate demands our constant attention and effort. One simply cannot turn a blind eye to the massive upheaval of democratic norms and institutions that the current presidential administration is attempting to carry out right now — this willing ignorance is precisely how democracy dies. Thus, in the name of democracy, please try to make some effort to stay politically informed and active. This could mean anything from simply reading a trustworthy newspaper for a few minutes each morning to something like taking part in meaningful acts of civil disobedience. All that matters is that you try in some way, as the fight for democracy does not observe summer vacation.
