For Asa Royal, senior, a trip to Washington D.C. was more than just a vacation; it was a chance to meet the leader of the free world.

Royal’s journey began in June of 2014 when he attended “American Legion Boys State,” a program where boys from across Missouri participate in a mock government for the state.

“It was a big program where a thousand people from all around the state- from the boot-heel to Kansas city- set up this huge model government and ran a model state. Out of those one thousand people, at the end of the week, two people were selected for a different program called ‘Boy’s Nation’ and I was one of those two people,” Royal said.

As one of the two Missouri representatives, Royal traveled to the nation’s capital in July to attend a mock senate of the United States. The 100 boys debated and decided upon different bills to become laws within their government.

“We spent the weeks coming up with new bills and debating them, getting to do some political things,” Royal said.

The trip ended with the young senators having a meet-and-greet with President Barack Obama, who welcomed each of the boys and congratulated them on one day becoming the world’s new best and brightest.

“He was tall and just came up to us and started shaking people’s hands. I felt really lucky. He said to me ‘I am proud to have you here,’ and all I could reply was ‘I’m proud to be here.’ It’s definitely something I will never forget. You don’t get to talk to the president every day,” Royal said.