This is not only the question I have heard for the past four and a half years, but it is also the question I continued to ask myself every day as I went through my undergraduate work here at Marquette.

The usual answer is, "because Marquette is a great school and the broadcasting major and College of Communication are great." Not that this isn't true but it was just always the easiest way to explain why I came here. Now that I have been here for a good chunk of my life, I know whatever reason I came here for, it was for the better.

To get something more out of life than going to the beach and living what people think my life is in Orange County? Yes, for the most part it is nice weather, beaches, shopping, Hollywood stars, but Milwaukee offers things California doesn't.

Coming to Milwaukee I was able to understand urban city life. Even though this isn't Chicago, it is still a big deal and something different from my sheltered city of Irvine, Calif. In Irvine, you seriously feel like you live in a bubble.

I came to Milwaukee to get out of the normal life and live beyond what I was used to. I didn't want to be like my high school peers, so therefore I came here, looking to be unique and have a story to tell.

I am happy I got the experience to learn more about myself, my independence and this gives me reason to know and want to live outside the bubble.

In my past four years I have learned more about cheese whips, the Packers, beer, snow and driving in the snow than I will ever need to know. Lastly I have learned street smarts, which many in life never have.

I will remember this great place of Milwaukee as I move on but most of all, thank you Milwaukee for helping me move outside my norm!

One thing I will miss about going home, is not getting asked "Why Milwaukee?" As one chapter closes a new opens and I hope I am able to spread the good news about life in Milwaukee, that it can work for a girl who grows up in sunny California!