In 2015, Donald Trump, a dynamic and straightforward businessman from New York, made a surprising entrance into the Republican presidential primary, capturing the attention of the nation.

While many of my friends and family were quick to support Trump, I remained cautious. My skepticism dated back to my attendance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2011, where Trump was a keynote speaker. That event foreshadowed his future impact on the Republican Party and the United States when he eventually launched his presidential campaign. Despite his unique political style, I was uncertain about his commitment to conservative principles.

By the time the North Carolina presidential primary took place in March 2016, my candidate of choice was Marco Rubio, then a Senator from Florida. However, Trump secured victory in the primary, with his main rival being Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. In the general election that fall, I opted to write in Rubio’s name as a symbolic protest, fully aware that it wouldn’t alter the outcome.