South Bend, Indiana surrounds the University of Notre Dame. The College of First Year Studies has issued a challenge to get first year students involved in the community. My partner for this challenge was fellow Balfour Scholar Lauren Hill; her and I spent a considerable amount of time exploring everything South Bend has to offer Culturally, Service-wise, Historically, Economically, and Recreationally.

On a side note, when we left Notre Dame to explore South Bend we always added a twist to our trips by walking back to campus from wherever we had gone. This was  incredibly fun and always a scenic walk (rain or snow!), but it also showed us just how much we were missing every time we got in a cab. There is so much beauty in taking the time to explore one's community with no agenda and an open mind, from old houses, to parks, rivers, and highway signs.