Going for It

There are many life lessons that young people learn in Scouting. They learn leadership and how to work with a team. They learn many skills and discover where they are strong and where they may not be. However, one of the most important and most useful is in the area of setting goal, planning their strategy and achieving those goals.

                From the time a young person enters the Scouting program, they are faced with a number of opportunities. They have merit badges to earn. There are currently 137 different merit badges, and although a Scout is not required to earn every one of them, many Scouts do. They also have ranks to earn starting with their Scouting rank and taking it all the way up to Eagle.

                Each badge; each rank, is earned and never just given to a Scout. It does not matter how long they have been in Scouting, what their family’s economic status is. Race, education, ethnicity, religion or any other factor does not play into the achievement of these prizes. It is all based on what the Scout does with the task he is given and how he completes the requirements for each badge and rank. Simply put, they must earn it and every Scout has the opportunity to do so.

“I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it.”

Denzel Washington

Actor

                In life, these Scouts will learn that excellence and success come to all those who put forth the effort. Our great nation is full of success stories from people in every walk of life. In Scouting, they will understand three very key facts to becoming successful in their life outside of Scouting. One is to set the goal of what you want. Second is to design a plan on just how you will achieve that goal. Third is that hard work and persistence pays off.

                Setting the goal is when the scout finds that badge or rank he wishes to earn. He finds out just what is required for him to do this. There are books and information that clearly present all the information needed to achieve the goal. In life, we have many goals that we wish to achieve. A Scout learns that, just like earing a new rank, there is information out there for the one who will seek it. The more they learn, the better prepared they are to achieve their goals.

                Once the information is gathered, the Scout decides just what they need to do to move forward. Each step is calculated and followed to help fulfill the requirements needed. In life, they learn that the key to achieving any goal is action. Nothing happens without action! They cannot sit by and hope that things will go their way, they must do something to make things go their way. The information, no matter how detailed and good, is useless without action.

                In Scouts, as in life, they find that the higher the rank, the more difficult the work. I have often challenged many adults who see Scouting as a “kid’s program” to take one merit badge and earn it like a Scout has to. They quickly find out that it is not as easy as they thought. There is no easy road in Scouting. No one is coddled and helped along so they are not overly worked. Everyone is not a winner and not all get the rewards. In Scouts, as in life, you must earn your rewards or go without them.

                Scouts are taught to take care of themselves. To be self-reliant and to strive to be their best at all times. This is why so many Scouts go on to successful careers and take on the toughest challenges in life. It is not the fact that they have more skills, opportunities, or advantages than others. Success comes because they have been preparing for it all their lives. Scouts are not just prepared for when things go wrong, they are ready to act when things all go right. Success comes to the prepared.

You matter! You matter to the world and to yourself. Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey