Conservative Smokeshow of the Day

College was an incredible experience for me. I joined a sorority, made lifelong friendships, attended more football games than I could possibly count, and discovered that I genuinely enjoyed studying communications and media. My classes covered everything from journalism and advertising to public speaking, political messaging, and digital marketing. I became especially interested in how news organizations and social media platforms influence public opinion. It amazed me how the same event could be presented in completely different ways depending on the outlet covering it.

I also encountered political opinions that were very different from the ones I'd grown up hearing. Some classmates were progressive, others were libertarian, and plenty weren't particularly interested in politics at all. At first, I sometimes felt uncomfortable speaking openly about my conservative beliefs, especially during heated classroom discussions. Over time, though, I learned how to explain my positions without getting defensive. I realized that being confident in my beliefs didn't require me to dislike people who disagreed with me, and I think that lesson made me a better communicator.