For as long as I can remember, it has been expected of me to earn the Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout. My Dad might mention it in passing at the dinner table, or one of my uncles would ask 6 year old me when I was going to start working on my project. My Dad and his two brothers are Eagle Scouts, so, as the oldest son, I was naturally the next in line.
Here’s the thing with achieving the rank of Eagle Scout: the older you get, the harder it is. While there are those who finish their project at fourteen or fifteen years old, scouting is typically their only extracurricular activity. This gives them more time to focus.
As one gets older, more things start getting in the way. Harder classes with more homework, sports like marching band and swim team, and singing at church on Sundays get in the way of progressing on an Eagle Scout. To achieve Eagle Scout in this day and age takes dedication, drive and focus. Without these, the short window of opportunity will close, never to reopen.
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As I entered high school, joined clubs, studied hard and played in marching band, my progress slowed. I never forgot about Eagle and never lost faith in my ability to become an Eagle Scout. However, I found many well-meaning interests in my life becoming distractions. As I approached the critical point of “start to finish or never finish this” in sophomore year, I redirected myself to take steps toward this critical goal. I had an Eagle Project in mind, but as I started the detailed plan, the project became more complicated than I had anticipated. So, I had to start over with another
In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout Finch tries to please her father, but living with no mother it’s hard to know how to act. It’s natural to follow Jem, her brother, when that is her only friend through out the years. Imagine hearing gossip about your father from friends, neighbors, and even your own cousin. Scout had to push through all of the gossip and believe in her father. Throughout the novel Scout shows how social she can be. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great novel that keeps you reading. Scout has a positive effect on events such as at the jail, she was the reason that the mob left. She also always curious so she is more mature than most kids her age. Through the journey of the trial she shows how hot-tempered, tomboyish, and mature she can be.
Meeting these heroes is what motivated me to apply. These brave warriors offered the ultimate sacrifice for their country. They became the best of the best. They became my role models and my idols. As I held my saber high above their heads, I realized what I wanted to do with my life; I want to be an aid to those in need while being the best I can be. I don’t want to be a hero. I just want to help find justice and peace in this world. I realized that day that the best way to do this would be to join the military. My original plan was to enlist, but I also want to go to college and continue to learn and better myself. Therefore, I made the biggest decision of my life. I decided to apply to the United States Military Academy. I decided to apply to stand side by side with some of the smartest, bravest, and toughest heroes America has to offer. The graduates of the United States Military are considered the best of the best which is what I wish to
Congratulations on your Eagle Scout! It takes a supportive and involved family to achieve that rank. Cole and I park cars at LSU home games and have met a few people from other troops, but so far, you are the first person we have met from Troop 65. Some adult men that I respect are Eagles and give their Boy Scout experience high praise for many life lessons. Hopefully, scouting will "balance" out Cole's life experience of being raised by women and give him practical life skills.
As a student at Northvale Public School, I have grown up with my older siblings being inducted into an organization called the National Junior Honor Society. I had seen all the hard work and dedication they put into their school work and activities just to get into this society, making me want to be just like them. Then a few weeks ago, I found a note on my desk in homeroom telling me that I had been nominated to be apart of this society. Through citizenship and character, leadership, and service, I intend on being inducted into the society I have heard so much about. Though it will take a lot of effort this school year, being a part of this society is a dream of mine that I will make sure to come true.
Even to this day I tried to exhibit many of the life skills I learned through the Eagle Scout process. I believe that completing this has led me on to my future career goals in conservation. Boy Scouts has given me a great interest in the outdoors, and also taught me the importance of environmental stewardship.
Once you have completed these steps, you will be officially an eagle scout. It is a great honor and you should be very proud of your achievement. Many Eagle Scouts become astronauts, celebrities, and many other types of famous people. Make sure that you follow the scout law and oath every day and use your scout skills to help the community you are in. Thanks to this essay you should easily be able to get your Eagle Scout rank.
The National Honor Society is a very prestigious organization that I would love to be a part of. It was an honor to be nominated as a candidate. I am currently a sophomore in high school, and I have always wanted to be a member of the National Honor Society. As I look back over the years and think of the times I have attended the ceremonies and saw all the awards the members received, I recall saying to myself “That’s going to be me one day.”. I asked my teachers about all the requirements that had to be met to be a National Honor Society member and I made it my main goal to meet each and every one.
The most honorable experience that I have had is working on my Eagle Scout project. I learned how to become a better leader, tackle difficult situations and how to work with others. All of these skills helped me be a better person.
One main event that made this book feel real was when Keiko & Henry went to the Black Elks Club. This event was so insightful for how Japanese lived back in 1942. Keiko and Henry went to a bar to see their friend Sheldon, play his saxophone. While the band was in between sets Sheldon came to talk to Henry, who was practically his big brother, Sheldon told him he should head home as it was becoming dark. When leaving Keiko and Henry were stopped by the FBI and heard a gun being cocked. The FBI took them back into the club and the FBI started hand cuffing all Japanese. Keiko, being Japanese, stood there in awe, as she did not know what to do. After six patrons were arrested Keiko spoke, " 'What's going to happen to them?' Keiko asked, the sound of concern in her small voice. "They can get the death penalty if they're found guilty of treason, but they'll probably just spend a few years in a nice jail cell" (59 Ford). These innocent people were perceived to be spies just because of their ancestry. This event in the novel made it feel astonishingly realistic.
Though Scout is still young at the end of the book, only nine, her view towards life has shifted from that of a carefree child to that of someone much older than she.
Throughout my first year in middle school I have really started taking great thought into my future. I have realized that I am getting closer to my adult life and that I need to start to plan for the type of future that I wish to have. As much as I enjoy team activities, I do think of myself as more of a leader and would like to go about planning my career in this way. I am determined to go about things at an advanced pace which is why I believe I should be part of the National Junior Honor Society.
Being tough isn’t always a sign of maturity. Giving up sometimes is a better way to be mature. In Scout's Honor, Avi or the narrator wants to be a man so he joins the boy scouts. In boy scouts there are badges so the narrator, Horse, and Max go on an overnight trip to get the next badge.
When I was seventeen I nervously traveled about 350 miles from my sleepy little home town of Freedom, Wyoming to the relatively enormous city of Boise, Idaho to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station. This wasn 't the first time I had been this far from home by myself, but it was the first time I was making adult decisions without my parents involvement. When it came time for me to choose my job in the army the counselors presented me with a long list that I qualified for. I got tired of scrolling and reading so I chose the first job that I actually understood. I returned home and excitedly told my parents that I would be an infantry soldier. My dad 's response to this might be considered a little less than heart warming “You dumb ass. Why didn 't you choose
The years of hard work and dedication have finally paid off. As I stand with the scoutmaster in front of me, and the audience behind my back, I feel like this accomplishment will not only help me develop as a leader, but also as a person. Becoming an eagle scout is more than a badge and a rank; it is a sense of duty and fulfillment that I have sought for so many years and am finally able to achieve. From Cub Scout to Eagle Scout, like adolescence to adulthood, this momentous occasion symbolizes my entrance into a new world and my readiness to tackle the challenges it has in store for me.