Born in Spain to Cuban exiles in the late 1960’s, and then, at only 45-days-old, emigrating to the United States, is a fitting beginning to the fascinating life story of Richard Blanco. The 45-year-old is an engineer, teacher, memoirist, public speaker and inaugural poet — the latter title he recently garnered after reciting a poem at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration ceremony earlier this year. He has truly lived a life only read about in novels.

Years before the renowned poet began slinging ink on Moleskine, Blanco took an interest in mathematics. It allowed him to forge a career in civil engineering where he designed bridges, and even the blueprint for South Miami’s City Hall. However, with a deep yearning to tell his story, Blanco finally decided to sit down and let his creative juices flow. He returned to his alma mater, Florida International University, and earned a Masters in Fine Arts in creative writing at night. During his studies, Blanco found a friend and mentor in the poet Campbell McGrath, who introduced Blanco to poetry.

His master’s thesis became his first book of poetry, “City of a Hundred Fires,” and was published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. The collection of poems, which won the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, delved into Blanco’s longing to connect on a deeper level with his Cuban roots — emotions that sprouted from his first trip to Cuba.

Riding high on the success of his first book, Blanco put his engineering career on hold and took a position as a professor of creative writing at Central Connecticut State University. After traveling throughout Europe and South America — which included living in Guatemala and Washington D.C. — Blanco returned to Miami and engineering. Still writing during his downtime, he released his second book, “Directions to The Beach of the Dead,” inspired by his world travels. This time around he was awarded the Beyond Margins Award from the PEN American Center. His following book, “Looking for the Gulf Motel,” delved into growing up gay in an über-macho, Latino environment.

Every book, every single poem, every time that he laid his pen to paper, led to January 21, 2013 when Blanco became the nation’s fifth inaugural poet as he stood on the steps of the Capitol. According to inaugural committee’s spokeswoman, Addie Whisenant, the President chose Blanco because his “deeply personal poems are rooted in the idea of what it means to be an American.” Of the three pieces he drafted, the committee chose “One Today,” which depicted the daily American experience.

Blanco became a historical figure on that fateful winter day, becoming the first Latino, immigrant, gay and youngest inaugural poet the country had ever seen.