I’m an ACC girl, through and through.

I’ve always lived somewhere with a strong ACC presence. In North Carolina, if you’re not an ACC fan, then what are you? Virginia has the Hokies and that other little school up I-64. When my family lived in Georgia, we still had our ACC fix with Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Even in Pennsylvania, we had decent ACC coverage because of the proximity to Maryland and Virginia; when Pittsburgh and Syracuse joined the ACC, that helped, too.

Side note, why on Earth is Syracuse in the ACC? And don’t even get me started on Notre Dame.

Then I moved to Tennessee. It’s SEC or nothing here.

It’s not like I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve had plenty of exposure to the madness that is SEC football. In fact, a dear friend of mine from middle school came from a divided SEC family. Her dad went to Auburn and her mom went to LSU. She used to come to my house during LSU-Auburn games because her parents bickered so much the whole time. I knew enough about the SEC teams and their fans and who hated whom the most; I figured I could blend in well enough.

I started following Tennessee football (not super closely, but closely enough) just to be informed. If I ever got into a conversation with Tennessee fans–which I thought would be a more common occurrence–then I’d be able to follow along.

It helped, but not enough. My ACC ties stuck out like a sore thumb.

Maybe it’s geography and proximity, but I really only experienced the SEC from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Auburn fans. I met a few Vanderbilt people in Nashville, ran into the occasional Ole Miss or Mississippi State fan downtown, and I think I saw a South Carolina fan somewhere. The Kentucky fans have started appearing now that it’s basketball season (much to my chagrin). And until the other week, I’d totally forgotten that Texas A&M and Missouri were even in the SEC.

Here’s what I learned and experienced in my first year fully immersed in SEC Country:

Tennessee fans may sport their creamsicle orange loud and proud, but it’s just the wrong shade for me. Not that I can really pull off orange all that well, but if there’s any shade of orange I wear, it’s my Burnt Orange, accompanied by that beautiful Chicago Maroon. Auburn’s orange is more of my shade. It’s closer, at least. War Eagle?

There’s a cute little boutique about five minutes down the road from my apartment that I like to shop at sometimes. While they don’t carry any “official” SEC fanwear, they do have several racks sorted by team colors: blue and orange for Florida, black and red for Georgia, navy and orange for Auburn, etc. One day I found a really cute top on the crimson-and-white rack, and thought it looked close enough to my favorite dark red hue that maybe I could pass it off as a Hokie color. But I knew it was intended for Alabama fans’ closets, and I just couldn’t bring myself to buy it. It was such a cute top, though.

I work with two SEC alums: one from Florida and one from Alabama. Sometimes I wonder how they get along. All kidding aside, the only time I ever heard them bickering was the week before the SEC Championship game. My fellow Hokie coworker and I kept each other sane this season (and consoled each other when appropriate).

If there’s one thing I learned quickly, it’s that everyone hates Alabama. That’s easy enough. I don’t think I’ve ever uttered the words “Roll Tide” in my life (and it felt so wrong typing them just now), and I don’t plan on ever uttering them. When my Hokies played ‘Bama in the season opener a few years ago, it was all I could do to get through watching the game without vomiting a little every time I heard that stupid “Rammer Jammer” chant.

I guess Alabama is to the SEC like Duke (barf) is to the ACC: if you don’t love them, you hate them. There’s no in between.And in my head, Texas A&M will always be a Big 12 team that just happens to play SEC teams.

And, after the whole season, I still don’t know a single word to “Rocky Top.” I even had some preparation from a gym teacher in elementary school. She was a Tennessee alum and played “Rocky Top” for us every Friday, whether it was football season or not.

The SEC is a completely different world compared to the ACC. I like it. It’s entertaining. I may live in SEC country, but I am an ACC girl always and forever.

Kate Robertson is a features writer for Pretty Southern and a Virginia Tech alumna. She also holds an M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University.

Born in North Carolina, raised in Georgia, Kate lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she works as a social media maven and kick-ass writer covering the lovely South.

Follow Kate on Twitter @kate3robertson and check out her blog, A Thought and a Half.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

As kids, we were frequently asked this question. With big dreams and even bigger imaginations, we would find ourselves rambling off answers such as an astronaut, the President of the United States, or yes…even a garbage man may or may not have crossed my mind (I mean c’mon, riding on the back of the truck with no seat belt seemed like the adventure of a lifetime). Now, I am almost finished with my first semester of my senior year at The University of Georgia, and this lingering question somehow squeaks its way into every conversation, coming back to haunt me.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Well, to be completely honest, I have no earthly idea. The same question that once provoked excitement and imagination now makes me spiral into a frantic panic. What should I do? Where should I live? What if I make the wrong decision? I know that I should be stoked about what is in store for my future. I worked my tail off in high school to be an above-average student so that I could get into the college of my dreams. Once I got here, I worked my tail off to stay an average student while still trying to maintain multiple jobs and not to mention a social life…all of which is a lot easier said than done. I’ve worked. I’ve networked. I’ve socialized, and I’ve studied (yes mom and dad, believe it or not your money for “books” did sometimes actually go towards something productive).

But what is the point?

Is it to get an internship after I graduate doing underpaid labor that looks good on a resume? Or is it to land a killer job that will bring in the big bucks, only to leave you waking up each morning dreading your 9-5 work day in a 2×2 cubicle with a boss that you despise? Most people tell me that I need to already have a job, like one of those Truck Driving Jobs, lined up and network with as many people that I can. Others have suggested taking a year off, because their biggest regret was rushing into the real-world. Some have suggested taking that extra victory lap at UGA, because why not go back for one last football season? (Go Dawgs) Trust me, I pushed for that last option but my parents weren’t quite as on board with it. So many options, so little time.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Each and every person that has asked me this question seems to have their own opinions and advice. Some have been very helpful, others I have taken with a grain of salt. And each time, the conversations have left me more stressed and conflicted than before. But I am putting an end to that. What happened to the little girl with big dreams and aspirations? Where along the way did I lose sight of what is important in life? So I stopped and asked myself a simple question:

“What do I want to be when I grow up?”

My answer was simple. I want to be happy. I want to travel, see the world, and meet new people. I want to live life to the fullest, learning something new every day. I want my journey to be an adventure, finding my passion along the way. I don’t know what kind of job will allow me to incorporate all of this, but I won’t settle until I find it. I know that God has a plan for my future, so I am choosing to put my trust in Him. I am choosing to let go of the pointless stress that I inflict on myself. I am choosing to enjoy my final months as a college student. This kava drink is also my life saver whenever I need a piece of mind.

I am choosing to prepare for my future, but live in the present. I am choosing to be happy.

This Independence Day is one in which I’m especially proud to be an American. In 2015, we’ve accomplished a lot in that past six months. Here are a few reasons I’m proud to live in the USA this Fourth of July.

Every single American has the right to marry whom he or she chooses. Around this time last year, we partnered with Skyy Vodka’s Freedom to Marry to help raise awareness for marriage equality. I’m so thankful that love won.

Freedom of Speech – there’s no way in hell I would have been able to create Pretty Southern if I lived in Russia or China. In fact, there are some days (or some posts) which I’m kind of surprised I haven’t received a knock on the door for.

Affordable Health Care – disagree with me in the comments section if you so choose, but I am thankful that we have the Exchange. Every U.S. citizen regardless of income or employment status has the right to affordable health insurance.

America is truly the land of the free and home of the brave. There is still much work to be done, but let’s save that for July 6. Enjoy your Fourth of July!