My Own Way by Kevin

My Own Way by Kevin - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." - Jack Welch
The positive of having four older siblings was I always had someone to talk to about problems I faced, but the downside was it allowed me to stay in a bubble, not having to form bonds with people my own age. As I got older, this shell I built for myself began to crack and I started to feel sharp pains in the back of my throat and tears in my eyes when I talked to new people. I knew that the only way to get rid of these problems was to constantly challenge myself to become more outgoing and independent.
Throughout elementary school, I was a member of the Cub Scouts, but the pack was so large I was able to hide myself from getting involved in most activities. However, it wasn’t until I joined Boy Scouts that the anxiety I dealt with my whole childhood began to fade. The Boy Scout troop had only about 7 people at the time and everyone was actively encouraged to participate in events. The act of starting something new with people my age gave me a sense of connection and I felt comfortable being around them. Every week, my mom would drive me to the Boy Scout building and I would hop out of the car and run to my new friends. Even though I began to forge deep relationships with the other Scouts in my troop, it did not completely erase the fear I felt towards social interactions.
As time progressed, I took part in many fundraisers and volunteering opportunities and started to build a voice for myself. This voice I started to foster allowed me to express myself and gave me the ability to hold conversations with people for much longer. Meeting new people and learning about their lives prompted an entirely different way of thinking for me. I finally realized that most people have fears and insecurities that they hide from others.
As I rose through various Scouting ranks, my confidence and leadership skills increased tremendously. I am no longer the Cub Scout who hid from activities, but rather the person that people come to when they need assistance or just want someone to talk to.
As I became the leader in the troop, I started to see that most of the new Scouts faced a similar problem to me when I younger. To inspire the younger Scouts to stay in the troop, I would tell them personal stories of when I was their age that connect to their feelings of anxiety. For me, it was the steady encouragement from my leaders since the day I first joined Boy Scouts that helped me emerge into the person I am today.
Being a Boy Scout is more than just learning to build fires and tie knots. Scouting is about finding a voice for yourself and becoming comfortable with who you are. When some people see me in public with my uniform on they ask, “You’re still a Boy Scout?” and laugh as if it’s something that I should be ashamed of. However, I will forever wear my uniform with immense pride. That uniform and every step I took on my journey to become an Eagle Scout helped me develop my confidence, social skills, and leadership abilities to what they are today.
Being a Boy Scout is more than just learning to build fires and tie knots. Scouting is about finding a voice for yourself and becoming comfortable with who you are. My time in Boy Scouts and every step I took on my journey to become an Eagle Scout helped me develop my confidence, social skills, and leadership abilities to what they are today. These skills will allow me to overcome any obstacle that I may encounter and help me grow as a leader.