Image Credits: Sarah Belle

Dear conservative politics,

We really have had our ups and downs this past year.  Through it all, I kind of owe you one. Through volunteering, conferences, conventions, internships, and social media, I have made so many new friends.  These friends are girls all over the country I would have never met without you. These young women are funny, smart, informed, and as we like to say at FFL “fiercely patriotic and unapologetically sassy.”

Despite the fact that politics can be mean and competitive, I do not feel threatened by or jealous of these young women. Rather, I am proud of their many accomplishments.  I am supportive of their endeavors in both their careers and personal lives. We congratulate each other on college acceptances, engagements, and newly published articles like the “proud moms” we all are. FFL has over 100 team members, most of which I have not had the chance to meet yet, but still stalk and root for on social media every day.  For those who I have been lucky to meet, it only made me adore and respect these ladies even more.

I remember meeting FFL Cabinet Member Caroline Craig for the first time at CPAC 2016. She has thousands of followers on Twitter.  I quickly learned many fans could not wait to meet her in person. When asked if I wanted to explore the District with her and some of the FFL team, I was intimidated. Caroline was everything I described above, informed and sassy.  After getting to know her, I also learned she has a heart of gold. Caroline has a way of making you feel like you have been friends forever.  She is an inspiration to many young conservative women.  I’m lucky to call her a fellow FFL team member. 

Over the summer, I made an another amazing friend from Texas while in California at a conference. I was not sure if I would ever get the chance to see her again.  Guess what? I saw her two more times this summer alone. I was thankful for every minute we spent together.  I’m also thankful that she keeps me updated on all the best sales. I text these girls about what is going on in the news that day or when I need a new book recommendation. I cannot stress enough how easy it is to bond with these ladies so quickly.

Out of these amazing women, I have found bridesmaids, mentors, and long lost sisters. My best friend, who I met through politics, and I are constantly confused as twins.  This might be because we fight like it or maybe, because we always make a scene when we are reunited. We book flights as surprises on each others birthdays and are constantly texting. If there happens to be a rare occasion that we are not texting, it is probably because we are either FaceTiming or giving the other the silent treatment for not answering fast enough. Even 400 miles apart, she helps me decide what I want for dinner and sends me the embarrassing Snapchats I have sent her. We are constantly saying how we like each other’s families more than them and send funny GIFs to each other – but do not bring up how you pronounce “GIF” unless you want to start a war between us.

At this point you are probably thinking, “I can’t tell if this is really sweet or really creepy.” I am confident in the fact that I am not the only one to have found a best friend through politics. In fact, as I write this thank you letter, I can think of a dozen best friends in FFL and other conservative organizations who are the #FriendshipGoals we all admire. No matter what group you are a part of or what campaign you work on, do not be intimidated by those old pros in politics. Make sure to surround yourself with supportive people who lift you up during your lows and celebrate your successes.  It will make all the difference in this crazy industry we have found ourselves in.

So, thank you again conservative politics for these amazing young women that I could not imagine my life without.

Victoria F
FFL Contributor
Victoria is a North Eastern girl with a southern heart, style, morals and the hair to match it. She loves movies with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, pre-ordering her drinks at Starbucks, and obviously America the beautiful.

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