For most high school students, summer break is a time for relaxing and fun in the sun. However, for Stuttgart High School junior Riley Johnson, it meant working for the re-election campaign of Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana. Witnessing the direct impact of government decisions on people’s lives, Johnson was inspired to apply to become a page with the U.S. Senate.

The page program is selective and competitive. Pages are appointed and endorsed by senators. Once selected, students spend a semester in Washington, D.C. working for the office of their state senator. Rising early in the morning to attend school, the normal work hours of a page are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They assist with day-to-day office work, while garnering the knowledge of the inner workings of government.

With the unique background of living in several different countries — including Tunisia, Australia and now Germany — as well as taking multiple advanced placement courses and maintaining an impressive grade-point average, this 2015 All-European Athlete-Scholar was selected as one of only 30 students nationwide to become a page.

Johnson will begin working at the office of Sen. Jon Tester of Montana on Jan. 29. There is no rest for this ambitious high school junior; he will begin a summer internship at the Montana Alzheimer’s Research Center shortly after completing the Senate page program in early June. As for the future, Johnson hopes to attend West Point, Cornell University or University of Pennsylvania.