I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky – I don't consider it to be a Southern place, and I certainly do not consider myself to be a Southern belle. My mother grew up in Queens and my father in Brooklyn, so I've always referred to myself as a city girl (and a wannabe New Yorker) who would one day get back to her roots.

Although I ventured only three and a half hours north to the Midwest for college, I realized that where I come from and how I was raised is completely different from the experiences of my North Shore/Chicago friends. This isn't a bad thing, because I believe I've found the people who I am most like in college. However, I have become more thankful for where I grew up, and the place that made the person I am today.

We can travel to different places, explore, and find things that we may like better than what we have at home. At the same time, we may find ourselves missing the little things that home provided. Growing up in the south, there are lessons and values instilled in you that you will never get rid of, and that you'll be thankful for, for the rest of your life.

10. A massive appreciation for horse races and horses in general.

9. KFC is disgusting, but fried chicken certainly is not.

8. You love Lilly Pulitzer, or you hate animals.

7. Which speaking of, hating of animals is not permitted – especially horses, cows and prize-winning pigs (therefore you love Lily Pulitzer).

6. There's a difference between authentic sweet tea, and iced tea with a sugar packet in it.

5. Lululemon is a luxury item.

4. A donut burger sounds horrible, tastes incredible.

3. How to drive, like a real person.

2. Southern charm.

1. Pretending you're not from the south will get you nowhere, and something will always give you away.