The Boy Scouts of America has been a a thriving organization that has been around in the Americas for over 100 years.The idea that Boy Scouts is only about wilderness survival and independence is true, but also outdated. The idea behind the Boy Scouts of America is not only to teach life-saving skills, but also to foster morals, integrity, and values in America's youth through their adulthood. The beliefs that are instilled within every Boy Scout, no matter how far in rank they advance or how long they choose to stay in the program, are values that can't be learned anywhere else.
My name is Danny Doherty, and I am a proud Boy Scout of America. Currently, I am working towards my Eagle Rank, a rank that less then 2% of Boy Scouts across the country will achieve in their time. The first value as a Boy Scout that they teach you is that of loyalty. By taking an reaffirming an oath every time we meet, we make a commitment to not only our troop members, but to the 2 million Boy Scouts in America. We promise to do our best to make ourselves not only role models, but as model citizens and people who other people can respect. When people see us in our uniform or when they find out that we're Boy Scouts, there's a whole new level of respect that is earned that can't be earned any other way. The second value were taught is trustworthiness. If as a troop, we can not depend on you, how can anybody else in the world depend on you? There are many other morals and values that are instilled within us that we are expected to carry with us for the rest of our lives.
We are forever held to a higher standard, and we forever bound as a Boy Scout. Forever, there has been this stigma that being a Boy Scout is stupid, a waste of time, or "gay" (still not sure why that's an insult, but that's besides the point). We are expected to do right even when faced with temptation, even when it would be so easy to do the wrong thing, and even when everyone else around us is doing wrong. We are citizens of the community, the nation, and the world. We are role models for the young, the old, the past, and the present, and most importantly, the future. Putting on that uniform charges each and every Boy Scout to become the best version of themselves that they can be. Once a Boy Scout, forever a Boy Scout. And hey, if I'm ever stuck in the woods without a way out, I'll know what to do.
My name is Danny Doherty, and I am a Boy Scout today, tomorrow, and forever.
