Scouting for Adults
A Look Back at My Scouting Career and What's Next
More than half of the eighteen years I've spent on this planet have been spent as a scout. To be honest, I think being a scout is something I'll keep for the rest of my life, even if they become tired of me and toss me out. For the past 10 years, Scouting has been the most interesting, adventurous, supporting, caring, and challenging aspect of my life, and I hope it will continue to be for the next ten.
Scouting has transported me across the nation, taught me skills I never thought I'd learn, provided me with career opportunities, introduced me to the individuals I now consider to be my best friends, and provided me with memories that bring a smile to my face every time they visit my mind. However, as time passes, I've began to reflect on the amazing experiences I've had, and, more importantly, the individuals who helped me get there.
These ideas were prevalent when I was younger, but they were not as essential because there were so many things to do and experience. Looking back, I realise that none of it would have been possible without the wonderful Leaders I encountered along the way. My first leaders, Kaa and Quoka, taught me how to tie knots, utilise the phonetic alphabet, and make sure that everyone in our scout troop felt welcome, happy, and safe. My second leader, who would later become one of my most significant individuals, helped me realise how much time and effort he put in to present this chaotic bunch of kids with unique experiences.
To begin with, Phantom, as we nickname him, horrified me. He was six feet tall, and unlike the other leaders and assistants, who wore shorts to keep cool in the Australian heat, he wore pants to every meeting night. This was due to the fact that he would rush to scouts right after work, leaving no time to go home and change into anything else. After only an hour with him, I realised my fears were unfounded; he was a kind, witty, and really caring leader, despite his best efforts to the contrary.
I began to see how much he cared for myself and the other scouts as time went on, keeping up with our lives and advocating for our viewpoints in front of other leaders. In 2016, a jamboree was conducted, which is a ten-day scout camp when all of Australia's scouts come together. At the time, my elder brother and I were both in scouts, and my family couldn't afford to send both of us, so I decided not to attend. I was prepared to accept this, but Phantom learned of it and devised a plan to fundraise for the full of my cost.
As I and a few others grew older and were ready to move up a section, we began to wonder if it was all worth it. The closest group with an older section was forty minutes distant, and the scouts in that group were also not fond of us. Phantom then hurried to our aid, devoting even more of his time to assisting us in the formation of our own group's elder part. Phantom formed his own organisation for our section as the gang began to ostracise the older section and just employ us as adult helpers. He battled for us, a bunch of obnoxious teens, to be able to enjoy our youth for a little longer before having to grow up.
Later, when I was having trouble finding work, he assisted me in obtaining a position as an administrative assistant at my branch. He was and continues to be one of the persons in my life who has helped me grow into the person I am today by providing me with support whenever I needed it.
So, remembering the wonderful individuals I've met on my scouting adventure, I feel obligated to assist in any way I can. Scouting has provided me with unwavering support, acceptance, some of the most fantastic life experiences, friends, and, most importantly, a family where I am always welcome. I want to have a good impact on the next generation of scouts, helping them enjoy their childhood in a secure, welcoming atmosphere while also helping to mould them into respected, kind, and pleasant individuals. As a result, in the future year, I shall attempt to lead a scout troop on my own. I'm going to provide this incredible group of youngsters with the scouting experience they so much deserve.
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Alexa Rose
Alexa Rose
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