People often ask me why I am a Democrat and who influenced me on the political beliefs I have today. My answer is always my family. I grew up in a home with elders who supported the Democratic Party. I have had great teachers in my life who also influenced me to read and learn more about politics. Because of this I am able to create my own opinions and think politically about some issues that are happening. My mother and father have had a phenomenal influence on my upbringing when it comes to politics. It all started from the communication we have as a family. When I started history lessons, I would come home and talk about previous conversations about elections at the time or any trending political topic. Our discussions would always educate me on what the topic might be. For example, when I was fourteen I didn't know much about being part of a political party. My parents taught me that choosing a party is important. Both parties have opposing views on the military, governmental, monetary, individualistic, and equality beliefs of society in America. I began to build my own opinions about our government and whether I was a Democrat or Republican. As a young man, I learned so much about our government and what it means to be a citizen. For my father, being a true citizen was more than being legally recognized in America; it is participating in voting in an election, being part of local peer groups and supporting a campaign. My father is a stickler for knowing your rights as a citizen of the United States. I wrote an article about why the 13th and 19th Amendments were so important, how they changed equality and freed African Americans from slavery and gave women the right to register to vote. This was a way to… half of paper… you have to realize that these people come here for a better life. America has created a life for people who need support and help. Today I am a Democratic supporter and an American citizen who admires my president. I believe Obama did good things for our country during his presidency. His decisions were very effective in a positive way for our country. I stand my ground when it comes to the constitutional rights of illegal immigrants. Although people argue that immigrants come to America to take away job opportunities from American citizens, I strongly disagree. My parents and my teacher, Mr. Martin, really educated me on why we should create individual opinions and beliefs. With my current political class, I am still growing as a political thinker. Now I'm realizing the importance behind my influences, now that I'm of age.