Proud to be UTK girls!

Being a girl at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is a great experience.  We get to participate and live in an environment unique to only our campus. Girls at UTK get to grow and learn in a diverse and exciting environment. To celebrate the launch of Her Campus UTK, I wanted to find out what being a girl at UT means to ladies on campus. I approached girls of all ages and majors and asked: “What does it mean to be a girl at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville?”

 
The first thing people notice about UT is the orange! Our school colors are orange and white and girls here definitely embrace them. If you’re a girl on this campus, you have something orange in your wardrobe. Ladies love to show their Volunteer spirit with stylish orange scarves, orange dresses, and eye catching orange accessories! Even the girls that were never fond of the color embrace their school spirit and wear it proudly to support our university.  Ladies always show up to sporting events dressed in their orange and ready to cheer. It’s great to a part of such an excited, spirited group of women.

“Since I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to grow up and attend UT like my dad. He told me all about the ‘good ol’ days’, partying hard on the strip and at the football games. I was so excited. Now that I have been here for a few years, I realized that UT is more than a ‘good time.’ It’s a foundation for your future. We work hard and play hard. I love it here. GO BIG ORANGE!” said Marlowe, a senior at UT.
 
UT ladies know how to fun outside of our athletics, too. From concerts to events and parties, UTK girls are always ready for a good time.  Of course we take our academics seriously. UT girls are lucky to be at a university with so many knowledgeable staff members and countless amazing opportunities to prepare us for our future careers. But it can’t be work all the time! Bailey, a freshman at UT, said it best saying, “To me, being a UTK girl means putting in an equal amount of hard work an fun. When I maintain that balance, life is good at UT!”
 
UT ladies also agree that being social is a huge part of being a UT gal. When you get to college you come in contact with thousands of new people. “Being a UT girl means being a part of something bigger than myself. I get to meet people from all over the country and even the world that I wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to meet. Being a student here has definitely opened me eyes and given me an experience that I wouldn’t get anywhere else,” said UT junior Kaitlin. We get the chance to meet so many cool people, and UT girls know it’s important to take advantage of the chance to develop those relationships.
 
Being a lady volunteer is about being up for anything. Girls on this campus don’t want to miss any opportunities. Bekah, a freshman at UT, said, “To me, being a UT girl means discovering something new every time I leave my dorm, meeting some of the greatest people on earth, cheering for awesome teams all year round, being whoever I want to be and making every an adventure.”
 
All of the ladies I interviewed love being UT girls. They all agreed that UTK gives them a place to grow and flourish in an environment where they can be themselves. We have an energetic and proud female population at our school. Thank you UT ladies and go Vols!

Check out what other UT ladies had to say:

“Being a UT girl is about taking chances and family. My friends are my second family when we’re at college. I’ve learned so much from all of them and been exposed to so many new things and new viewpoints, and they have all supported me through the last four years. Not only have I learned from my friends, but my professors have become a HUGE part of my life. They always push me to do my best, be open minded, and not be afraid to take chances. UT has helped me to become a braver, more educated woman who is willing to take risks and be herself.” – Senior Laura Legg