Merry Bigbear grew up in the cozy wilderness of Washington’s mountain country, where the tallest peaks and quiet forests were her playground — and the outside world felt like a distant rumor. Sheltered by her loving (and overprotective) family, Merry learned to be fearless in familiar places but clueless when it came to anything beyond her mountain home. Still, her curiosity was unstoppable. She devoured stories about far-off cultures and dreamed of meeting people from every corner of the world. With an outgoing spirit and a heart full of questions, she chose to study Cultural and Social Anthropology, hoping to finally explore the fascinating worlds she’d only read about. Now at Woodcrest University, Merry is stepping out of her safe bubble, ready to turn wonder into wisdom and meet life head-on — missteps, surprises, and all.