Pine View student meets President Obama

Pine View senior Aravind Byju had the opportunity to meet with President Obama last week at the White House. 

“He talked about his aspirations and his struggles, told some jokes and shook our hands. For me, meeting the president really humanized the office,” Byju said in a press release.

Byju made the trip with the American Legion Boys Nation to Washington, D.C. As the recently elected Boys Nation president, Byju led the group on the trip to meet with government officials. 

Boys Nation is an annual American Legion program that includes civic training, leadership development and a focus on Americanism. The group also met with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, members of the staffs of Florida senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson on Capitol Hill to discuss local issues.

One of the issues Boys Nation senators brought up was the state’s demographic changes and the subject of Byju’s Boys Nation bill designed to make community college more affordable.

“Right now this whole experience has been absolutely surreal for me, and it really has not hit me” said Byju in a press release. “I am very blessed to be where I am and to have all the opportunity that I have enjoyed. I would not be anything without all of those who have supported me and I want to thank my Legion Post 159 that sponsored me, and my entire family and my brother who is my inspiration. I am very humbled and I can only hope to make everyone proud.”