Kimberlyn Hughes

Southern. It's an identifier I openly and proudly embrace, but a confinement that I want to break away from. I was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. I grew up doing every thing a proper ATLien knows to do: ordering Coke, notPepsi; cheering on the Braves, Falcons, Bulldawgs, and for a brief time, the Thrashers (may they rest in peace); and pronouncing the city name Adlanna, because everyone knows once you pronounce the Ts you might as well put a large, neon, light-up sign over your head that proclaims "I am not from here!"

Given my upbringing, attending the University of Georgia seemed like a no-brainer. I can distinctly remember learning to call the dawgs before I started elementary school, and not being afraid to do it in public because everyoneelse did it, too. On top of my rich history with UGA, in-state tuition and the Zell Miller scholarship made a pretty convincing argument when deciding on colleges. Once I confirmed my acceptance to the fairest university of the southland, I never looked back. I am now in the midst of my second year in the Classic City, and each day I spend at school confirms that there really is nothin' finer in the land than good ol' UGA.

As you can see, Georgia is all that I've ever known. I love it here. I'm at homehere. But at the same time, I'm itching for something more. I desire to expand my horizons beyond the Golden Isles and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I yearn to learn about other cultures not only worldwide, but also in the United States. I'm itching to break out of my comfort zone, crumple it into a paper ball, throw it behind me, and live life without hesitation.

Until that day comes, I'm studying hard as a double major in political science and international affairs with a minor in french. I'm participating in mock trial and I'm a member of a sorority. I'm working to go to law school and become a litigator for either international law, corporate law, entertainment law, or child welfare law. I'm enamored with all that I do and the opportunities that I have, and I look forward to what my future will bring. It might not be tomorrow, or maybe not even next year, but I'm confident that one dayI will get to hurdle all of the barriers I've ever known and freely explore the world around me.