In a room filled with boys from around the state, candidates for the Premier Boy’s State state elections come to the podium in Lantz arena hoping to gain the votes of their fellow citizens Wednesday night. Either by supporting their own personal achievements, relating themselves to classic TV shows, such as full house or quoting multiple song lyrics from current artists such as Eminem, the candidates hoped to show that they were the best of the best.

One candidate; however, chose to honor his experiences and his friendships in the humblest of ways while giving his speech for Premier Boy’s State’s highest office.

Metamora Township High School student Sam Dias did not know exactly what to expect when he came to Premier Boy’s State on Saturday. All he wanted was a chance to become a better leader, and now he is a candidate for governor.

Premier Boy’s State is a week long camp run by the American Legion that teaches high school boys in the summer before their senior year the political structure of American government as well as sportsmanship and the electoral process.

Dias, 17, heard about the camp from his cousin who attended in Missouri. Before having to leave early because personal issues involving a friend in a fatal car accident, Dias remembers his cousin telling him the amount of “stuff” he was learning about himself and becoming a better leader.

At first, Dias said he did not think too much about it, but his dad suggested he should try Premier Boy’s State out.

“My dad suggested I go to guidance councilors and find out [about the camp] from them,” recalls Dias. “My school was not too vocal about the program until I came to the councilor about it. There was an application on the desk and he said I could go if I was interested.”

Before coming to 72nd Premier Boy’s State, Dias said he did not know exactly what to expect. He tried to get a hold of representatives from American Legion, but came to the experience thinking it was a “leadership camp” and “did not know about the political aspect of it,” but for someone who does not know too much about the American political system he said he seemed to “adapted to it pretty quickly.”

When boys arrive to the camp they are divided into many different sections, including county and from their city. There are about 65 boys per county and about eight counties total. Boys are told when they arrive which city and county they belong to and from there must decide which political party, either a federalist or a nationalist, them will align themselves.

Dias decided to be a member of the Federalist Party for the city of Yost in Hayes County. Elections started out right away for city positions, including county clerk, fire chief, police chief and mayor.

Since there were not a huge amount of citizens, what the boys are called while they are in camp, for each city, many of the boys were able to achieve the positions that they desired no matter what party they were from. Dias; however, was elected mayor for Yost.

He never got to act out while in his position as mayor, which is to appoint positions and run city meetings, because before he knew it he was elected a chairman for Hayes County and from there vice-chairman to the counties board.

Dias from that first night did not care what positions he got or how far he would go as long as developed friendships and more confidence in himself and his leadership skills.

“All I wanted was friendships and confidence,” Dias said. “Now more and more people support me, which in turn gives me more friends and more confidence as a leader. It adds to the experience by a long shot.”

Premier Boy’s State is not all about politics; sportsmanship is a major player for teaching the boys leadership skills as well. The boys are set up in competitions, with team captains to lead them along the way. The sports aspect is seen as also strengthening bonds both on and off the field.

Dias is also a captain for a sports team and said that in real life people “find leaders in mini governments as well as on the field.”

When Dias found out that he was the Federalist Party’s candidate for governor in the state elections, he was ecstatic. To him, the nomination just reassured the fact that he was doing what he came to the camp to do, be a leader.

Filled with charisma, Dias does not hold himself within the restraints of his political party and just sees himself as serving his fellow citizens. Sometimes that means hanging out with friends in down time going over some ideas for his campaign and his speeches.

“Its good to talk to people to see their views on things. I think I could be a good born leader but I just need to find ways to bring it out,” Dias said. “Its things like this that bring it out.”

Dias is involved in his theatre department at his high school and said he brings that stage confidence to his public speeches, but “needs help trying to figure out what to say.”

At the general assembly where the candidates give their speeches, Dias walks to the podium with grace and charisma. He expresses that he did not expect any of this when he first arrived at Premier Boy’s State. In his speech he thanked his friends and his fellow citizens for giving him this opportunity and hopes to “represent all of you guys, the best group of 17 and 18 year olds that Illinois has to offer.”

And that no matter what happens, whether he gets elected or not, that the remaining time should be spent on having a ball, enjoying the time they are spending here and taking back what they have learned.

Travis Linder, 22 of Decatur, has been coming to Premier Boy’s State for seven years, six as a camp councilor, and feels that Dias has what it takes to become governor.

Linder, councilor for both Yost city and Hayes County, said he “noticed that he has what it takes to be governor right from the beginning” and that no matter what he did, Dias would utilize his experiences for the rest of his life, something the camp tries to instill.

“You can really tell from the first day the people who really try and have the best chances in offices,” Linder said. “I hope that no matter what, position or not, that Dias takes home with him the sense of achievement, new friendships, more self-confidence and just the willingness to go and try new things in the future.”

From the political debate between the two governor candidates, Dias, despite a few fumbles with thoughts, tried to convey all that he has learned through his experiences in the camp. Answering questions ranging from drafting to immigration to discrimination policies of private organizations utilizing public schools, Dias tries to show the self-confidence that he has learned by being a member of Premier Boy’s State, and he will take that with him for the rest of his life.