When I was waiting tables, washing dishes, or mowing lawns for money, I never thought of myself as stuck in some station in life. I was on my own path, my own journey, an American journey where I could think for myself, decide for myself, define happiness for myself.

Ryan voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2007. The House passed this Ryan Plan on April 15 2011 by a vote of 235–193. Kemp became Ryan's mentor and Ryan cites him as a "huge influence.

Ryan was officially nominated at the Republican convention in Tampa on August 29 2012. He was born and raised in Janesville Wisconsin and is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio. On November 6 2012 Romney and Ryan were defeated in the general election by the incumbent Barack Obama and Joe Biden although Ryan won reelection to his congressional seat.