For ten years—since first grade—I have been involved in scouting. Boy Scouts has inculcated me with the importance of such values as comradery, integrity, and perseverance; furthermore, it has been instrumental in allowing me to develop crucial leadership skills which I would be devoid of otherwise. Progressing from Tiger Cub to Eagle Scout is one of the most rewarding experiences the world over. In short, I owe a great deal of who I am today to Boy Scouts.
Due to my involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, I had the privilege of improving my community by designing and—with the help of my troop—completing my own Eagle Project: it replaced the trash receptacles in Hanover Square Park, a park immediately outside of downtown Brunswick that desperately needed to have its unserviceable receptacles replaced. Though my goal was simple, achieving it was logistically difficult at times. For instance, I ordered steel stakes that were supposed to have 5/8 inch holes in them to fit 5/8 inch bolts, but the ones that arrived had holes too small for the bolts. Rather than ship the stakes back to the machine shop, which would be costly and time consuming, I decided that it would be better for my dad to widen the holes. (I could not since scouts are not allowed to use power tools during their projects.) After melting a drill bit and spending an entire day slaving away over the stakes, my dad finally completed modifying the holes. Thanks to his efforts my project was completed on schedule. My Eagle Project taught me that achieving an ultimate goal—however simple—is a crucible of perseverance that requires a person to constantly modify his plans in accordance with his situation.
Similar to a soldier in combat, a patrol leader must adapt to rapidly changing circumstances within his patrol. Amicable play can quickly degenerate into a fight if someone feels wronged. For example, a few scouts under my supervision were playing harmoniously on a hill when one, Chet, decided that it would be funny to throw a pinecone at his friend, Francis. Regrettably, the pinecone struck Francis squarely in the eye. Though Chet was immediately remorseful, Francis became infuriated and tried to tackle him. I rushed over to the scene as quickly as I could and began to assess the situation. I discerned from Chet’s visage that he had not meant to harm his friend; however, I also gathered that Francis was too incensed to recognize Chet’s intentions. I confirmed my understanding of the situation with both boys, explained Chet’s intentions to Francis, and then proposed a solution: Chet was to apologize and promise not to throw anything else for the remainder of the trip. The two agreed that my solution was fair and accepted it. Consequently, the remainder of the campout was pleasantly uneventful. As a rule, a competent leader identifies problems, analyzes situations, and suggests sensible solutions.
I cannot overstate the impact that the Boy Scouts of America has had on my life; were it not for the organization I would not possess the leadership skills that I do today. Scouting invaluably helped me develop my leadership skills by entrusting me with the responsibility of shepherding younger scouts and solving conflicts that occurred amongst them. In conclusion, Boy Scouts has helped me become a better person.
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