Pride in the SEC

There is nothing ​that I've experienced ​in sports media that compares to the 4 day event of SEC Football Media Days.

The amount of media. The hype. The craze. The flashing lights. The screaming fans. ​It's really a skeptical like no other.

Two years ago I ​was invited to attend ​SEC​ ​M​edia ​D​ays without any affiliation to the conference. I built a relationship with someone who worked there and they offered me an opportunity to volunteer. As someone who was desperately looking to find her way into the industry I jumped at the opportunity. ​The experience immensely​ changed my career.​ And two years later I'm well on my way to the career I've always wanted.​ But that's a story for a different day.

During ​SEC​ ​M​edia ​D​ays I (among other students from schools across the conference) was invited to ​speak with ​Commissionor Greg Sankey​ in a small group setting in his​ ​presidential suite​ at the hotel. Listening to him talk was amazing. As a communications and public relations professional I love hearing people's stories. Hearing his was even better. We heard him talk about the chances he took, the opportunities he took advantage of and ​his emphasis ​in the importance of building relationships. He recommended books for us to read and thanked us for assisting in the production of the event.

As I sat there and took it all in, I realized the pride that beams from him as he talks about the conference. I recognized it because it's the same pride I knew I wanted to be a part of long before ever stepping foot on SEC territory. It's the pride that's felt for a team, a school, the conference as whole. The idea that if it can't be my team, I want it to be a team we're, in a way, associated with. He loves the SEC for the pride it brings among the fans​ and honestly, I do too​. Fans root for the ​SEC​. People chant S-E-C at games and championships for teams that aren't theirs. The SEC as a whole is a community larger than that of just one of its 14 member institutions. It's the greatest conference in college athletics. And as I paraphrase Commissioner Sankey from his opening remarks at the beginning of the week, as a conference we want to be scholars first, champions second.

In all, people want to be a part of the greatness that is the Southeastern Conference. I, for sure, am proud to be!

Am I Southern Yet?

I've wanted to live in the south for as long as I can remember.  Actually, probably ever since I saw Sweet Home Alabama.  That movie instantly became one of my favorites and still is today.  I loved the way Melanie took off to a whole new world and then realized she still had a soft spot for home, too.  That movie taught me about having roots & wings, I've wanted both ever since. I'm the opposite of Melanie though, I grew up in the North and have been dying to get to the South.  I didn't grow up in the city, but lived close enough to New York City and Philadelphia to love and experience them often.  I appreciate and embrace the chaos.  The simplicity, charm and hospitality of the south is what I've been missing.  When I didn't go to college down here, I knew I'd be moving asap after graduation.  My friends even called me a Southern Belle all throughout college and I kinda loved it.  I'm finally here and love every minute of it.  So, am I southern yet?

I drink sweet tea. Am I southern yet?

I put fresh flowers in a mason jar.  Am I southern yet?

I drink out of mason jars.  Am I southern yet?

I'm obsessed with College Football.  Am I southern yet?

I root for an SEC team.  Am I southern yet?

I eat fried pickles.  Am I southern yet?

I now teeze my hair.  Am I southern yet?

I occasionally have chicken biscuits for breakfast.  Am I southern yet?

Whiskey is my drink of choice.  Am I southern yet?

I've waited patiently at a green light for the cars in front of me to go without beeping.  Am I southern yet?

I dream of having a beautiful porch swing.  Am I southern yet?

I have more than one pair of cowboy boots and more on my wish list! Am I southern yet?

I started saying "y'all".  Am I southern yet?

My Favorite Things About the South

I can't believe I've been living in the south for over a year.  I've always loved the culture of the south and honestly couldn't wait for my opportunity to move here!  It's different than I imagined in a lot of ways, but also the same, if not better, too!  Here are some of my favorite things about the south:The only sweet tea you can really get up north is McDonald's or Brisk from a soda fountain (vom!)  If you want sweet tea up north they'll give you brewed iced tea with packets of sugar.  That's not the same as Real Southern Sweet Tea where the sugar is basically brewed into the tea.  I don't really know how it's made, but it's amazing!!! OMG, YUM!!! Again, you can't get these up north!  Some places down here make them better than others, as expected, but these have become my favorite appetizers!  I didn't even know what okra was before moving down here.  I had a Jessica Simpson moment the first time my friends ordered it.  I asked if it was fish before I tried it.  They laughed hysterically and I'll never live it down.  FYI okra is a vegetable, who knew?I love a good southern drawl.  Grown boys saying yes ma'am & yessir may be the sweetest things I've ever heard.  It literally melts my heart.  I hope I never grow numb to the sound of that.  I hope it's something I always notice and appreciate.Obviously I was a huge football fan before I moved south, but football is something completely different down here and I LOVE IT.  Everything you hear about the south and its football is completely true.It really does exist.  People in the south are kind and inviting.  They are patient and interested.  The south is filled with charm and simplicity, which I love.  Living here has taught me patience- something I'm still working on, though.  I've really loved embracing southern culture.  

* Also, I've eaten chicken biscuits for breakfast but I still can't get on board with chicken and waffles.  Baby steps!