Graduating to Shorewood

After countless years of switching majors, enjoying the college lifestyle and living on little to no money, I finally graduated this past May from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in English (with a few victory laps to boot). Two days before my official college graduation, my boyfriend and I left our college living behind us and moved into our first “home”…and let me tell you, we’re lovin’ it! We’ve now been in the village for a month and I’ve made sure to acclimate myself to the area and fall in love with the not-quite-city ‘burb.

Along with graduating to Shorewood, it’s time for me to graduate to a “big girl job.” I’m currently working as a nanny and enjoying the summer, but soon I’d like to be in the realm of a young professional. And what better place to be a young professional than Shorewood? Our little community provides many opportunities to get to know your neighbors…or better yet, the chance to network. From church festivals to music in the park, it’s easy to chat up the locals and connect with people from all sorts of professional backgrounds. Not only could this open up the door for further opportunities, it also makes you recognizable to your neighbors and brings you closer. So if you see me at any (and every) event hosted in Shorewood, know that I’m a social butterfly and am interested in your story. And hey, maybe I can help you in some way too!

The small community is the perfect place to foster not only a professional relationship, but also personal relationship. Seeing that I was the female version of Van Wilder for many years, I spent a fair share of my days socializing on Water Street and North Avenue. Now don’t get me wrong, it was an absolute blast. But now, as a 26-year-old, I enjoy talking to my friends without shouting over the latest pop song, while indulging in a delicious microbrew rather than a Keystone out of a line that probably hasn’t been cleaned since my arrival on this planet in 1985. Living a whooping three blocks from Three Lions Pub, I’ve grown fond of the beer list, British bartenders and giant pretzels. The location is absolutely kid-friendly during proper hours and at night you can expect to watch the Brewer game or check out a band. As an added bonus, you don’t know who will stumble in there and present the opportunity to network in a casual setting. Talking over a Spotted Cow about how the Brewers can still turn this season around is a great way to bond with your fellow Shorewood neighbors. This beats the crazy college bars any day!

Over the next few months, follow my journey as I transition into a grown up with health insurance and a 401K plan (eek!). I’ll continue to explore Shorewood and find the benefits of living just a small step away from the city. I look forward to meeting many of you at events around town…and if you want to seek me out, Alterra and Three Lions are great places to start! Cheers!