NORTH CAROLINA -- Joseph Buckner wears his “Make America Great” mask proudly. However, if he was on campus at UNC, where he's a junior, he might choose a different mask.

“It's been difficult...the students are very hostile sometimes being a Republican, but you just got to roll with it,” Buckner said.

The 20-year-old student from Gaston County worked on his first campaign at 17. He says his parents weren't that political and that he just kind of fell into it.

“Republicans have always been the more constitutionalist party when it comes to appointing judges, so I find that a very important issue, as well as the economy. I think all Americans do better with money in their pockets than giving it to the government to decide. So, that kind of drew me into the Republican party,” Buckner said.

This week he'll take his passion into his first Republican National Convention as a delegate. He says he's the youngest delegate in the state.

“That was an amazing honor,” Buckner said. “It shows hard work really does pay off.”

Delegates are charged with casting a vote for the candidate their state choses. In North Carolina, that's President Donald Trump.

Buckner wants to go to law school, become an attorney, and eventually go into politics. The politician he looks up to most is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, but during the RNC his focus will be on President Trump.

“Originally in the beginning of the primary in 2016, I was a Rubio fan. I was a Scott Walker fan then Rubio, but I saw how well he connected with the people of America and I knew [Trump] was going to be our president,” Buckner said.

While Buckner won't return to campus anytime soon because of COVID-19 he has learned something he takes with him wherever he goes.

“It's really made me work with people who don't agree with me and I think that's important. I think our generation is going to be the one that is going to have to bridge the divide between the parties and I'm looking forward to continuing that,” Buckner said.

Buckner is a double major in Political Science and Public Policy. He will not be attending the RNC in person, but says he's planning to attend some watch parties.