While a student at Wellesley College, I was often told that I was “the nicest, most reasonable Republican” that my fellow classmate had ever met. In such instances, I was always tempted to reply, “Well it just so happens that you’re the smartest Democrat I know!” It’s silly, but would anyone be truly flattered by either statement? Both suggest that the subject is an exception to a rule defined by partisan cliches. I doubt any Wellesley student would argue that she shares identical beliefs and values with her peers or strictly adheres to a particular ideological rule.

I didn’t identify myself as a conservative when I arrived at Wellesley, but I proudly graduated as one in May. Instead of growing more liberal in my four years at Wellesley, I grew more conservative.