When you are from a small town and you’re looking to expand your horizons, Milwaukee is a perfect choice. Being from a suburb of Chicago I grew up believing that after graduation I would begin my life in the Windy City. When it came time for me to look at colleges to transfer to from community college, I still thought that Chicago was the place for me. That was until I toured the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and not only did I fall in love with the school but I fell in love with the city.
Being from a town that only offered me a movie theater and a bowling alley for my list of things to do I was eager to take on Milwaukee. I had only been here for Summerfest so I didn’t know my way around at all. Although that was nerve-racking at first I quickly learned the transit system and started to explore.
My first weekend in Milwaukee I made sure to get to know the campus but I also took a train to the Historic Third Ward. I went with a group of girls I had just met and we talked around the Public Market and indulged in some delicious shrimp nachos and a cup of Colectivo Coffee. There was an art festival going on with a bunch of local artists showcasing their work and music playing in the background. I felt that I was in a movie, all the culture that I had experienced and friendly people I met, I felt right at home.
Aside from the beautiful Public Market, I found many other great things to do while living in Milwaukee. A popular spot when the weather is warm is Bradford Beach. Just in the 8 months I have lived here, I have visited the beach countless times. It is a great place to go for a walk or hangout on the beach for some relaxation from school. Also, if you’re a food lover like me you’d also get excited to know that restaurants are open late hours, some even 3am. Many of these great places include Ians Pizza, Oakland Gyros, and Qdoba. You can pig out on your way back from hitting the night life or going out to party.
Milwaukee gives you the perfect opportunity to live in a city but also have the feeling of a suburb. You have a beautiful skyline with skyscrapers but then you also have access to beach and places to walk and hike around. Plus, if you graduate from UWM, you have endless amounts of businesses and companies to network with so you can stay in Milwaukee post-graduation.
I will never regret my decision to move to Milwaukee and go to UWM. The experience has been a whirlwind and I know it’s only the beginning. I am getting the best of both worlds by being in a city with lots of things to do with my friends, as well as being able to enjoy the simpler things in life!