when I joined Cub Scouts (or even a Boy Scout for that matter) as that was the farthest thing from my mind at the time. I joined into Pack 31 as a Wolf rank scout. I stayed for the rest of the years I had there, eventually earning the Arrow of Light achievement. After crossing over from my pack, I was faced with the challenge of finding a suitable Boy Scout Troop that fit me. I visited a few others in Bolingbrook, but the night I visited Troop 75 I knew that I belonged there.

 

I had a lot to learn from there like the Scout Oath and Law (they were different at the time). The scouts were all friendly to me and made everything alright, even if it did take me awhile to get used to things. On top of things I was terribly introverted and quiet when I joined. It wasn’t until the annual Pathways to Eagle campout in Bolingbrook that I made my best friend in and out of the Troop, James Tynan. There’s some life skills that you’ll learn along the way as well such as how to roll your tent, sleeping bag, start fires and chop wood with axes. Of the nearly fifty merit badges I earned my favorites were swimming, shotgun shooting, and programming. I had to learn the hard way that you have to roll your tent or sleeping bag just right to get it back in its bag, it took me a while to get it right. There are some skills you can only get from scouting like lashings, whipping or fusing rope, and using a map and compass together. And then there’s the little stuff you pick up on your own such as how the trailer is arranged, or where to set up your tent. I set up my tent once at the bottom of the hill (don’t do that), and I came back to find it flooded with water on the inside, half of my stuff soaked.

 

No one said being a Boy Scout would be easy. To become an Eagle Scout, it took me about five years of hard work and dedication. My Eagle scout project was constructing two Little Free Libraries in Rotary Park and Indian Chase Meadows Park. I learned the most by working through the ranks and getting leadership practice as Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader as well as attending the National Youth Leadership Training hosted by Rainbow Council (Go Blue Patrol!). The most important thing I learned is to set goals so that the end objective becomes easier to achieve.

 

Boy Scouts allowed me to grow as a person physically, mentally, and as a leader as well. I am now able to speak publicly somewhat better than I used to (still nervous) and am able to lead a group of individuals towards an end goal. It was definitely worth the experience and I would gladly do it all over again. And one thing I’ll never forget is having to lead a group of scouts to set up the large canopy and each others tents -- while it was heavily raining. Thanks to Scouting I can say I am a better person and would recommend the Scouting program and the rank of Eagle Scout to any person.