Trent matriculated at Virginia Polytechnic Institute ("VPI"), where she enrolled as a math major and graduated as an English major. When asked, Trent claims that she went to VPI because it was tradition among all the males in her mom's family. The real reason is because at the time, there were 8,000 male students and only 300 women -- pretty good odds.
In her junior year, Trent and her friend, Dianne, attended a debate on campus between Barry Goldwater and a second well-known speaker. At the time, Trent was apolitical -- i.e. politically ignorant. Knowing that she would be voting for the first time the following year, she went to learn something about the issues.
A post-debate exchange with Dianne became a "defining moment" in Trent’s life. Upon leaving the auditorium, they were both excited and enthusiastic by what they had heard. "Wasn't he amazing?" exclaimed Dianne, "So passionate and articulate." "Yes," agreed Trent. "Goldwater was really eloquent." "Not Goldwater!" retorted the friend. . . . and the conversation went downhill from there.
Trent was fascinated by the exchange: “How could the two of us―two intelligent, rational individuals – hear exactly the same speeches and come to diametrically opposite conclusions?” Liberals and conservatives: it is a question to which she has been seeking an answer ever since.
Trent Kittleman for Howard County 3000 Kittleman Lane * West Friendship, Maryland 21074 *(301) 661-3344 * Campaign Manager: Josette Wheatley (410) 206-9539 Trent@Kittleman2010.com * Josette@Kittleman2010.com