Today, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was inaugurated for his second term.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the Inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

It’s not really a secret that I support the President, and I’ve never really tried to keep it a secret. All it takes is a quick glance at any of my social media sites to find out my political views.

“My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it — so long as we seize it together.” Barack Obama

Today is also Martin Luther King Day, where Americans everywhere celebrate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who played an influential role in the Civil Rights Movement. It’s fitting that the United States of America’s first black president was inaugurated again today. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered by Dr. King. As a side note, Barack Obama claims Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. as two of his greatest heroes.

There were definitely a lot of people who didn’t watch the Inauguration and therefore missed the Inauguration Address, which is truly a shame. Personally, I found it very inspiring, and I feel that the country is definitely moving in the right direction.

“We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few.” Barack Obama

My biggest reason for supporting Obama was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also called “Obamacare”), a law that aimed to decrease the amount of uninsured Americans and reducing the overall cost of health care. Most importantly, the bill stopped insurance companies from imposing a lifetime cap, denying coverage because of a preexisting condition, as well as other insurance company abuses. That was particularly important for me since my brother Jude was reaching the end of his lifetime limit and now holds “childhood cancer” as a preexisting condition.

Disappointingly, the Republican Party made it clear they would repeal the bill as soon as they would get elected, and Mitt Romney’s health care plan didn’t include those two very important points. That issue alone was an instant “deal-breaker” for me; there’s no way I could support the Republican Party because of that issue and no other issue was more important.

I did find a strong interest in politics during the election season, one that will continue to grow until the end of President Obama’s second term. By November 2016, I’ll be casting my first ballot and actually making my voice count.

I do think that President Obama is leading the United States in the right direction, and I do like the Obama Administration. I’m thankful that First Lady Michelle Obama has taken up exercise and healthy eating among children as a serious issue, and I’ve been in support of Obama’s stances on all the recent issues, including the fiscal cliff and gun control. I feel much closer to Democratic Party’s positions than to the Republican Party’s positions, both socially and fiscally.

I’m optimistic that the next four years will begin to put this country on the path of progress, peace, and prosperity, and I hope the President’s second and last term will be very successful.

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In case you missed the Inaugural Address, you can watch it in its entirety below.

President Obama is expected to give his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 12.