Warrenton High School student Grant Buechner is coming into his senior year with one of Missouri’s most coveted academic experiences under his belt, having attended the Missouri Boys State summer program in June.

For eight days, Buechner interacted with some of the most dedicated students from throughout the state to develop leadership skills and build an understanding of America’s complex democratic system. Students at Boys State and Girls State programs form their own mock governments, modeled after the city, county and state governments of their own communities.

For Buechner, it was a chance to explore his interest in the way our society works.

“I like to participate in anything that gives me leadership experience or real-world experience,” Buechner explained. “I also have interest in government and politics, and how policies affect people.”

In Warrenton, Buechner is a member of FFA, a past officer for National Honor Society, and a member of the Scholar Quiz Bowl team. He’s enrolled this year in college-level courses for biology, psychology, literature, calculus and physics, as well classes in Spanish and ag construction.

Q: What was the most meaningful thing you learned at Boys State?
“The lesson they try to drive home there is the importance of maintaining democracy, and all the different parts and roles that go into maintaining it and being a responsible citizen.”

Q: What did you individually do at Boys State?
“I lost a couple elections, but then I ran and was elected municipal judge. I attended ‘law school’ because of that, which was interesting. I liked the speakers (at the program) too.”

Q: Has that experience made you more, or less interested in government?
“I think it’s made me a bit more interested, but also a bit more cautious. It made me realize there’s a lot more to it.”

Q: What made you take such a wide range of high-level classes?
“To get college credit out of the way. And because if you have more diverse knowledge, you have a better way of looking at the world. Even if you go specifically into one field, if you have at least a little knowledge in other fields, I think it’s a help.”

Q: When you’ve struggled in a class, what’s helped you?
“When I find something difficult, I’ll try different sources. I’ll read the book that explains it. If that doesn’t work, I like to learn visually, so a lot of times I’ll watch a YouTube video that draws out the concept.
“With YouTube you can get different perspectives. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned just watching YouTube videos about different things.”

Q: What subjects do you most enjoy?
“Definitely the social sciences like history, psychology, geography, government.”

Q: What are your plans after high school?
“I’d like to go to college for psychology, history or law.”

Favorite food: Ice cream
Favorite movie: “The Outlaw Josey Wales”
Favorite show: “Breaking Bad”
Favorite music: All kinds
Favorite destination: Yellowstone National Park