Joel Crank says if things go well for the Republican party this fall, he won't have to pursue a career in politics. The 18-year-old from Colorado Springs will try to help the GOP cause, starting next week as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Crank said his first national convention, which is expected to nominate Donald Trump for president, will be "overwhelming." A delegate for Ted Cruz, Crank will vote for the Texas senator on the first ballot, but added he'll support whomever the Republican nominee is.

"This convention, I can't believe some of the things that are going on," Crank said. "This convention...will be the convention of the century."

Crank spoke with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner. Audio from this interview will be available after noon Monday. Next week, Warner will speak with Democratic delegate Polly Baca, who will be attending her 14th national convention.

Crank on his support for Donald Trump:

"Obviously he wasn't my favorite candidate; however, I'll support him after he becomes the nominee because I think he's much better than (presumptive Democratic nominee) Hillary Clinton."

On what it will take for America to "become amazing again":

"It's conservative values reigning in America. It's an America where capitalism is the true means to success. It's an America where I'm 18 years old and I'm not paying thousands in taxes at the end of the year."

On a Democratic Party proposal to provide free in-state tuition at colleges and universities:

"On a surface level, of course, free stuff sound great, doesn't it? But in the end, it doesn't exist. It's just deferring my college tuition until I'm an adult. So I'd rather just pay my dues now and pay for college and not later have the burden of paying for other people to go to college."

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