I’m going to do my best not to feed you the same “Change You Can Believe In” rhetoric that so many mindless Obama supporters have doubtless done before. Yes, I am an enthusiastic Obama-maniac, but I didn’t just jump on the bandwagon because he’s the Democratic candidate or because I liked the pretty picture painted by abstract words like “change” and “hope.” I can recognize the ridiculousness of these concepts, but voters must understand that a candidate has to use a tagline in order to gain recognition and become associated with ideals. Is McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” bus any better? At least Obama has been consistent in the ideals with which he identifies himself — McCain has used at least nine different taglines since October 2007.

Why do I support Obama? To be honest, I was a Kucinich supporter early in the presidential race. However, I knew that I had to get real and find a candidate to support who had a real chance at winning this election.

As a woman, there are some gender-specific issues that are very important to me. To put it simply and without launching into an abortion debate, I believe that abortion must remain legal in order to keep women safe. However, abortions should occur as rarely as possible — this can be accomplished through sex education that promotes abstinence but also teaches safe sex practices. Obama opposes a constitutional amendment to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, and is an original co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, which expands access to contraception, health information and preventative services to cut down on unintended pregnancies. Obama is also an original co-sponsor of Johanna’s Law, which will educate women and increase awareness of ovarian cancer — an issue that is personal to me, as my grandmother was taken by the illness.

As a student, education is also an issue of importance. I support Obama’s plan to reform No Child Left Behind, among other comprehensive reform plans for America’s schools. I also admire his plan to create the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which will make the first $4,000 of college free for most Americans, in exchange for 100 hours of community service.

The qualities that garner most of my support have little to do with Obama’s tangible policies — the dignity with which he conducts himself; the air of calmness he assumes while McCain, in contrast, appears to panic; his willingness to talk to other countries instead of upholding Bush’s isolationist, nationalist doctrine. Despite his “inexperience,” I am confident in Obama’s ability to improve America’s tarnished image, and I am confident that he has the country’s best interest at heart.

So yes, Obama is my “hope for the future,” and he is the change that I believe in.

— Jessica Opoien is a freshman in English and journalism and mass communication from Marinette, Wis.