Over the last four years, President Barack Obama has boldly led our nation through a critical time in its history. He successfully placed us on the road to recovery while maintaining our place as the world’s leading superpower.

It is clear that Obama provides significantly more sound plans for the next four years than Republican challenger Mitt Romney on most issues that voters care about in this election.

As many polls have shown over the past few years, voters’ top issue this election is the direction and security of our nation’s economy. Obama inherited an economy in 2009 that was on the brink of collapse because of lax regulations on Wall Street and the nation’s financial sector that was allowed to perpetuate at the hands of Republicans.

Due to Obama’s critical bailout of the banking and auto industry, the private sector has seen 32 straight months of private sector job growth, and nearly 5.5 million jobs created. Businesses are expanding, confidence is building and our economy is growing. But in order for our economy to remain stable and for us to begin reducing our debt, the president has proposed a plan that focused on strengthening the middle class and asking the wealthiest Americans to do their fair share.

When coupled with reform to an outdated and lengthy tax code, Obama’s plan for our economic future is promising.

Obama has also led the charge on social issues during his first term in office. In one of his first acts as president, he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which ensures that women across the nation get equal pay for the same work as their male counterparts. Obama also supports a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions, while saying that abortions should be “safe, legal and rare.”

The president also repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, allowing gays and lesbians the long-sought ability to openly acknowledge their identity while bravely serving their country. Additionally, the president has added protections for LGBT Americans at the federal level by classifying acts motivated by actual or perceived gender and sexual orientation as hate crimes. And in May 2012, Obama heroically became the first sitting president to endorse same-sex marriage, completing an evolving stance on the issue.

Obama represents the country’s ability to move forward and progress as we continue the fight for equality of all Americans.

The president has also realized the need to invest in the energy sources of tomorrow and has offered an “all of the above” environmental strategy that is focused on increasing the amount of energy we generate here at home, while recognizing the long-term benefits of alternative energy sources. Under Obama’s tenure, domestic oil production is at a 14-year high, working toward his promise to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign energy by investing in wind, solar and natural gas ventures.

Obama’s environmental policy couples realism with opportunity and allows our nation to meet the needs we currently face, and preparing for the energy needs we are certain to face in the future.

President Obama’s role as commander in chief portrays perhaps the most evident case for his reelection. Under his watch, America has ended a controversial war in Iraq, and is safely ending our long war in Afghanistan, allowing the elected leaders and voters of those countries to govern themselves under the principles of democracy and freedom.

Obama has played a very active and highly involved role in decimating the leadership of Al-Qaeda, authorizing the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and personally overseeing drone strikes aimed at terrorist leadership in Yemen and all throughout the Middle East.

Obama has imposed crippling rounds of economic sanctions aimed at pressuring the Iranian government to halt their production of enriched uranium. Working alongside allies like Israel, Obama has been a key player in the pursuit of international peace. Just this past weekend, Obama received the endorsement of Haaretz, a major Israeli newspaper, which said, “if any [American voters] are vacillating in their vote over whether Obama has been a good president for Israel, the answer is yes.”

In maintaining strong relations with close allies in Europe and the Middle East – like Israel – the president has provided strong leadership.

In all areas and issues that voters face in this election, President Barack Obama offers the best plan for our nation. His methodical mentality and tempered attitude make him a strong and fit leader to move our country forward through the next four years. I enthusiastically and wholeheartedly endorse him for president.

Austin Gaddis is a senior majoring in communication studies and public relations.