A Little Fish in a Big Pond

Hello everyone! My name is Bella Ward, and I come from a very quiet and sleepy town in Michigan. My family has lived in said small town since its actual foundation. In fact, the founder of my hometown was named Samuel Ward, and my family are direct descendants of him. When deciding on which university to go to out of high school, I searched around and finally decided on Wayne State University in Detroit for one reason- it was the complete opposite of what I was used to in the most beautiful way. It was diverse, full of life, exciting, loud, and busy. I fell in love instantly. I found myself falling into place studying political science and criminal justice, surrounded by like minded students and professors. Suddenly I added a third major- German language- and applied for the Junior Year in Munich program, wishing for yet another foreign experience. One where I had to be completely independent and thrust into a new culture. That brings me to my big move to Munich, where I will be studying for the year. It is a scary and exciting time, as Munich is actually a much larger city than Detroit (as far as population goes) and trying to master a language you have been studying for just two years has proved to be very difficult. My move here has certainly been humbling to say the least, making me realize that I am once again, a little fish in a bigger pond. Moving out of your comfort zone is definitely a difficult decision to make, but I am so glad I have made it. The relationships I have formed and the things I have seen since being in Germany are simply irreplaceable, and I couldn’t be happier.