Dan Beard Alumni Association

As an life-long advocate of the Scouting movement and an Eagle Scout, I reflect on the transformative power it has had in shaping my life. Throughout my years of involvement, the comprehensive range of activities and experiences provided by Scouting has not only equipped me with invaluable life skills but has also opened doors to career opportunities. Additionally, Scouting has fostered lifelong friendships, instilled a strong work ethic, laid a foundation for my project planning abilities, and imparted a profound sense of purpose. This article delves into the profound impact Scouting has had on my personal and professional growth, as well as its role in fostering an enduring commitment to giving back.

Scouting, through its diverse range of activities, has been instrumental in imparting essential life skills. Having worked at a camp for six years, I have gained invaluable experiences that have shaped my work ethic and instilled a sense of responsibility. The demanding nature of camp work not only honed my ability to adapt and thrive in challenging environments but also taught me the importance of teamwork and cooperation. Interacting with a diverse array of people, including fellow staff, leaders, and camp attendees, allowed me to cultivate strong interpersonal skills, fostering the ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from various backgrounds.

Beyond its immediate impact on personal growth, Scouting has played a significant role in shaping my career trajectory. The pursuit of merit badges, initially considered by me as mere requirements, ultimately evolved into meaningful experiences that directly influenced my professional development. The process of earning these badges expanded my knowledge and expertise in various fields, transforming classroom learning into tangible real-world applications. Consequently, the skills acquired through merit badge work became instrumental in securing my current and past employment opportunities, providing me with a competitive edge in the job market. Just as importantly, it gave me contact with adults in these fields giving me an early experience in the professional world before many of my peers.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Scouting lies in its ability to forge enduring friendships. The shared experiences and challenges that Scouting offers create a unique bond between individuals that often transcends time and distance. Through Scouting, I have had the privilege of connecting with like-minded individuals who share my values and aspirations. These lifelong friendships have provided a reliable support network, encouraging personal growth and fostering a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the Scouting community. The relationships I have built range from people I talk to every day, to some who I only see a few times a decade, but we still get along as if we have kept in touch daily.

Earning the rank of Eagle instills a strong sense of organization and project management. Through participation in various Scouting activities, I have learned the importance of meticulous planning and effective execution. From organizing camp events to leading community service projects, Scouting has honed my ability to identify goals, create comprehensive plans, and see projects through to their successful completion. These invaluable skills have extended beyond Scouting, enabling me to excel in academic, professional, and personal endeavors, empowering me to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and purpose. Leadership positions as a youth and young adult also showed me that we can all work towards these goals, and how to embrace everyone’s strengths to create a greater whole. While Eagle is an individual award, there are dozens of people who help a Scout get there. This skill is an important part of successful project management because the leader who tries to do it all alone will often fail or burn out.

The most profound lesson I have learned through Scouting is that personal growth is an ongoing journey without a defined endpoint. As Scouts, we strive to achieve our highest potential, continually setting new goals and surmounting new challenges. Reaching the pinnacle of Scouting, whether it be earning the Eagle Scout, Quartermaster or Summit rank serves as a reminder that success is not an endpoint but an opportunity to give back to the community and inspire others. While it is not a rank, membership in the Order of the Arrow taught me that “those who chose you need you”. I have taken that to heart, and offered years more leadership beyond my youth participation.

Scouting has played an indispensable role in shaping my personal and professional development. Through its emphasis on life skills, cooperative abilities, career preparation, lifelong friendships, project planning, and a commitment to giving back, Scouting has provided me with the necessary tools to thrive in various aspects of life. It has also taught me that I can and should have fun as much as possible when working toward something.

"Once a Scout, always a Scout."
"Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."

My Scouting journey began several decades ago when I joined as a Tiger Cub, worked my way through Cub Scouts and Webelos, earned the Arrow of Light award, crossed over into Boy Scouts (now known as Scouts BSA), and earned the Eagle Scout rank. There were many other memorable parts of my Scouting experience along the way, but I wanted to highlight a few key items that really impacted my life.

I was fortunate to have my father involved with me during much of my Scouting journey. He served in leadership roles such as Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Scoutmaster. During this time he not only taught the things needed to be successful in Scouting, but also so many other life lessons and skills through the shared Scouting experience. Although I was very active in Scouting as a youth and young adult, life changed (as it often does) and I was away from the program for twenty years until my five year old daughter wanted to join Cub Scouts as a Lion after having seen my box full of old memorabilia, especially the Pinewood Derby cars! It was super exciting to rejoin the program and start again by serving as a Den Leader for my daughter's Den so that I can now pass all of my Scouting and life knowledge onto her through the shared interest and activities of Scouting.

Nearly all of the ranks in Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA involve a service project which helps teach the values of helpfulness, selflessness, and service. My extensive participation in the Order of the Arrow (OA) – "The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service" – further instilled the importance of service to others, "giving back" (financially or otherwise), and volunteering to help in whatever way needed. Helping others and offering my time and skills to benefit others is something that I actively try to do as much as possible and encourage others to do so as well. Many people won't ask for help, even if needed, so being able to identify those opportunities and offer assistance is a particularly gratifying experience.

Serving in various leadership positions throughout my Scouting journey as both a youth and adult, planning and executing an Eagle Scout project, and service on the OA Executive Committee have all helped me learn and refine my leadership, organization, and project management skills. My Vigil Honor name is "Majaweichten Nimat" which means, "Organized Brother," so I must have been doing something right! In all seriousness, these are important skills that not only helped me earn my Scouting ranks and awards, but I used them to complete college and have relied on them everyday in my professional career to be productive, effective, productive, and successful.

Scouting has been a large part of my life and has helped shape my personality in many ways. I am proud to be a Scout and an Eagle Scout and an adult volunteer again serving a local Unit, the District, and the Council in various positions. I am very supportive of the updated Scouting program and excited that my daughter now has the opportunity to earn Eagle Scout as well.