On April 1, 2016 I attended the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference. Hundreds of Conservatives from across Pennsylvania gathered to hear from Conservative politicians and leaders on various issues. I enjoyed hearing from the various speakers, including a Pennsylvania Senator, Pennsylvania Representative from the House of Representatives, and Ohio Governor and Presidential Candidate John Kasich. However, the real highlight for me was listening to (and shaking hands with) Texas Senator and Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz.

As someone who has been riding the line between Republican and Democrat since high school, I enjoy listening and hearing from leaders in both parties. When I turned 18, I registered to vote, and being unsure of where I fell politically I registered as a Democrat. I figured I didn’t completely despise President Obama, and I knew that George W Bush had caused a bit of a financial crisis—so why not register Democrat? After all, I was basically an Independent who didn’t want to register Independent because I wanted to be able to vote in Primary Elections. I made assumptions about the Republican Party, and as various people came forward and threw their name in the pool of candidates I decided to stand by the Democrats. (The fact that Donald Trump decided to run for president under the Republican ticket wasn’t helping anything either.) I knew that I wasn’t liberal enough to support Bernie Sanders, so naturally I flocked to Hillary Clinton. I loved what she stood for when it came to Women’s Rights, so I just decided that naturally I would vote for her.

As I became more politically aware, however, I realized that standing behind the Democrats as a Christian was not something I could be comfortable with because their ideologies go against some foundational Biblical truths. However, as this point I was entering college, and the pressure to be liberal was almost too much to handle. I had people “feeling the Bern” left and right because of Sanders’ free-college idea, and I had people telling me that if I didn’t support gay marriage and equality for everyone like the Liberals than I was close-minded and discriminating against others. Up until a few months ago, I let these voices rule me. I even wrote an article in support of Hillary Clinton (which I don’t regret as I still see her work for equal pay and the like very important.) However, what I do regret is immediately supporting the Democrats without doing my research.

As I previously mentioned, up until a few months ago I let the pressure to be liberal control me. I conformed to what is expected of a college student who has student loans to pay off. However, I no longer stand by the Democrats. I have finally decided to let my religion and my values control who I am voting for, and when it comes down to it—I’m about as Conservative as it gets. I believe that marriage was meant to be between a woman and a man. I believe in legal immigration only. I believe that the government should not interfere with religion and religious freedom. I believe in a flat tax for everyone as well as the abolishment of the IRS. I am Pro-Life! And I am a proud Republican and Conservative.

Now, how does this all connect to the conference I mentioned at the beginning of this piece? Quite simply: When I was asked today who I supported I answered without hesitation: Ted Cruz. Cruz is the proven Conservative, and I am standing by my values. I have realized that just because I believe in equal rights for females—it doesn’t mean that I have to support Hillary Clinton. I understand that the candidate I am standing behind is not a popular candidate for a college student to endorse, but my faith and religion means more to me than being “popular.” So what if the rest of my campus is “feeling the Bern?” I’m going with the candidate that can be trusTED.