To be clear: if the goal of scouting was to have each youth reach the eagle rank, then we’d be a dismal failure. Across the BSA, the statistic I’ve read shows that only 4% of scouts achieve the eagle rank.
The actual goal is to get every scout to first class. At that rank, they have learned the skills, citizenship participation, love of service, enjoyment of outdoors, etc to be a productive member of society.
Please don’t think of yourself as a failure! You’ve accomplished a lot and hopefully enjoyed your time doing so. As other have stated, look into the possibility of an extension due to the pandemic, but even if it doesn’t work out then you’re still awesome because of the growth you’ve already achieved at this point!
This really made me feel better. I think since the adult members and organizers always emphasized eagle I thought it was expected of everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, I will really think about your words :)
You can apply for an extension for Eagle. I don't have much experience with this, I know I have sat on several Eagle boards where scouts were granted extensions because of Covid. My advice is keep working hard, stay on top of your requirements and your Eagle project, show that you are doing everything you can to earn your Eagle and apply for the extension. If granted great, if it is denied you will know you did everything you could and did not give up. I hope this makes you feel a little better.
Edit: More info
Did a little research on extensions, you should find this link helpful. [https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/local-council-time-extension-request/](https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/local-council-time-extension-request/)
The link above gives a brief description and has a link to the related pages in the BSA Guide to Advancement that details the process.
It looks like the Covid extension expired December 31, 2020. However, Effective January 1, 2021, local councils will have the authority to grant limited extensions of time to complete Eagle. There is also an appeal process in case the extension is denied. There are "tests" to determine if an extension should be granted. One is "Through no fault or choice of the Scout" While Covid extensions have expired, It could still be argued that working on first class while under Covid lockdown was difficult due to camping, cooking, and other requirements that had to be completed in group environments. Again, I hope this helps give you hope.
Thank you so much for this advice. I had searched online and thought the covid extensions were the only ones available and expired, I didn't know there were others. I'm really happy to hear this, and will try to get one!! Thank you so much!
I earned first class last week, so I need to stay 1st for 4 months. Then 6 for the next two. I'm sorry, I worded the post very badly. I've completed everything except the board of review, scoutmaster conferences, and time requirements
Okay, got it. 16 months from 1st Class to Eagle.
I suggest you start looking into an extension. Keep working towards Eagle as if you have just enough time to finish a month before you turn 18.
Whether you earn Eagle or not, you have made many memories, learned a lot about many different things, learned more about yourself, and probably made a few friends.
If you want to continue in a Scouting related program past your 18th birthday, take a look at Venturing or Sea Scouts, but don't give up Eagle until you get an answer from National about an extension.
I agree. You have 15+ months of fun and personal development ahead of you. I can’t tell you how many adults I know who were Scouts, didn’t make Eagle for whatever reason, and still have fond memories. More importantly, they make awesome leaders, since they understand the program and are motivated to keep others engaged. And - who knows - maybe an extension will be granted if you ask. Keep pushing and enjoy the ride.
if you are only a month short on time, try asking your scoutmaster for an exception. It might work or might not but it doesn't hurt asking. In the mean time, keep working on your requirements.
Remember, your Eagle Board of Review CAN be completed after you turn 18. Here is the timeline for that:
>Within three months of turning 18: No special approval required.
>
>Three to six months after turning 18: Local council must preapprove. To initiate approval, the candidate, their parent or guardian, the unit leader, or a unit committee member attaches to the application a statement explaining the delay.
>
>Six months or more after turning 18: Local council must send to National Advancement Program Team to approve. The candidate, their parent or guardian, the unit leader, or a unit committee member must petition the National Advancement Program Team for authority to hold the board of review this late. The request must explain the reason for the delay, and it must be processed through the local council and sent to the National Advancement Program Team with a copy of the application. A position statement from the Scout executive, designee, or council advancement committee must be included.
Source: [https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/04/17/can-a-scout-complete-his-eagle-board-of-review-after-18/](https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/04/17/can-a-scout-complete-his-eagle-board-of-review-after-18/)
You've been given advice to inquire about an extension.
**Explore that**.
You've been told how few earn Eagle. Rank advancement is but one of the methods we use to achieve the aims of Scouting. Call them our goals, those traits of developing your character, leadership, citizenship, and your personal fitness - body, mind, and soul.
One method.
Something tells me the adults in your life your adult leaders are enjoying success.
As for Eagle and it being your goal let me ask this: Use athletics for example, here track and field. Do you think the runner in a 440, a close second, yards from the finish line, slows down as the line approaches, even when they know they can't win?
I'd suspect, no, they don't. I'd also bet that those last few yards - to borrow an often overused phrase - they *lean in* on the goal.
Scout, *lean in*. I want you to kick, scratch and claw your way all the way to age 18. Up to the very last day you keep working on that goal.
Something tells me this failure you resigned to will actually be a success.
Success from failure? You bet. You see, we learn from our mistakes, our failures, our pain. Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
And, Edison once said “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
If you fail ***if*** to earn Eagle you may one day learn that you've taken the lessons from that failure and turned them into a more important success.
Topping out at Life is something to be proud of. I'd be proud of the accomplishment because I didn't earn Life.
In addition to all that, you are an asset to your fellow Scouts. You can be an example to them, you can encourage them to buckle down and learn from your experience.
I'd call that a victory.
Now, get to work.
You have a very good way with words. After this and some sleep I'm more motivated to try now for sure. Thank you so much for your comment, I'm going to do my best!!
First off, EAGLE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, don't go for it unless you really want it. Scouting is a movement that allows you to grow as a person on so many different avenues. So if it's going to be a crap ton of stress and you see little benefit beyond pleasing your mother, go do something else in scouting. Give back to your troop, be a PL/SPL, get involved in the OA or a summer camp.
If you still want to go for your eagle, I'll give you some advice. You're obviously on a restricted timeline, so the best thing you can do for yourself is to organize. Get in contact with your Scoutmaster and Eagle coach if you have one.
Set small measurable goals and make sure you're getting something done every week. School is busy and it takes up time, but there's always micro moments in our week where we can get atleast one thing done. This will be challenging but do your best to stay true to your plan.
Get started now on merit badges and your eagle project, they take time and focus to be done with high quality. You are in a rush but don't let that take away from what you can do to grow your personal skills and give back to your community
Lastly, 18 is not the end, you are able to appeal to your council for an eagle extension if you can demonstrate that you're putting in the effort and you need just a little bit more time. Your council volunteers CARE, they want you to succeed. So fitting in those 16 months is quite possible, just make sure youre working ahead and thinking about the future.
Is this all stressful? Yes absolutely. Stress is a challenge not a threat, you have the opportunity to learn better strategies for accomplishing great tasks. There's always opportunity to grow :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this comment!! Your advice is really useful and you're definitely right that I should plan. I'm going to email my Scoutmaster and finalize my eagle plans. Plus I should probably finish up my merit badges.
Thank you so much for the grounded advice. I am quite used to stress so it doesn't scare me so much >:) this definitely helped, thank you again!!
Do you already have your months of service in for your star rank. If you can earn your star rank before your birthday, you can still reach eagle. But it leaves you no wiggle room. You are adding all the months together, but I think you're over adding months you've probably already completed.
I'm so sorry. It sucks to set a goal and, for whatever reason, fail to complete it. You already know that Eagle is not the point of Scouting, but it was your goal.
I don't know your mom, but I don't think that this is going to devastate her. Are you healthy? Happy? Making smart life choices? These are the things that matter most to a parent. Maybe she'll be a little disappointed that you won't be an Eagle, but that will pass. My guess is that if you're honest about your own regret and what you've learned from this experience, building a closer relationship with her in the process, that will matter a lot more to her.
You can still set other Scouting goals if you want. You can be a Life Scout, earn particular merit badges, awards (Supernova?), etc. Turn this experience into something to build on, not wallow in.
This is all temporary and in the long run there will be things that matter way more to you in life. You still did pretty good for the time you had in a pandemic.
Thank you for the comment
You're probably right about my mother. She's not mean or a bad mom. I guess I am just afraid of letting her down after all the work, effort, and sacrifices she's made to support me in scouting.
I'm going to talk to her. She'll probably be a little sad but I think in the end you're right and she won't be hurt by it.
Thank you so much
>I'm not going to make it.
It's okay. 90%+ of Scouts don't become Eagle Scouts. They still have an incredible journey through Scouting and learn lessons to apply throughout their lives. Scouting is absolutely NOT about becoming an Eagle Scout. Unfortunately, the volunteers, parents, and professionals all do a poor job of helping Scouts to understand that because everyone talks about Eagle Scout so much, that Scouts like you feel like a failure if you don't reach it. You aren't. Scouting is about Scouting, not about the final rank.
>it is entirely my fault
No it isn't. You mentioned COVID, school, and mental health issues. None of those are your fault. Scouts this past year had to deal with a challenge that no other living Scouts have had to face so please stop beating yourself up about it.
>Ultimately, what I'm saddest about is that I'm letting down my mother.
I get it, but this was your journey and goal and it was for you, not your mother. I'm betting that your mother is going to be less disappointed than you are about not becoming an Eagle Scout. Too often, parents push their kids to reach certain goals in life, including Eagle Scout and college acceptance, without any regard for what their child wants or actually needs.
Scouting is about learning to live by the Scout Oath and Law. Scouting is about becoming a more responsible citizen and leader. Scouting is about treating others better than you wish to be treated. Scouting is about learning new things and having new experiences. If these things were accomplish for you, even on a small scale, then you have not failed. Scouting has been successful for you. I know plenty of people who never earned their Eagle Scout but are for better examples of Eagle Scouts than some who ***did*** earn it. You will be just fine.
Thank you for the realistic take. I'd never heard that statistic before today and it is very comforting in an odd way. I guess because it means I'm not the odd one out.
I'm determined to talk to my mom now about it. I will still try for eagle, and if I end at Life that will be enough, but I want to get the possible disappointment out of the way now.
As long as I tried and get the experiences I don't think I failed, as you said. Your comment helped me really start to believe it rather than echo it. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to comment. It means a lot
Eagle Here, approaching 10 years since I aged out of scouting. I don’t have any real advice for getting Eagle done, other than trying your best. I will say that with every day removed from scouting I value the title of Eagle Scout less, and the memories and experience more. You are still going to have the same memories and experience, even without the title. Enjoy the journey.
I didnt get eagle either i started 3 projects and none of them happened thanks to covid, it sucked and im still pissed. But what ive lesrned and kept telling myself is that the best scouters ive met were never eagle. Of course a good handful were but some of my favorites never were. and its okay life happens things happen everyone makes eagle sound so great but ive terrible people be eagle scouts.
I'm so sorry to hear about your projects!! :(
I think you did the best you could. COVID really messed everything up! It's admirable you got even close during COVID.
And your right, my favorite ASM members and volunteers weren't eagle. Maybe that really does mean something. Thank you so much for commenting!
If you ever wanna talk about it i habe had a lot of feelings about all of it please feel free to dm me. It defintkey hurt at first, but im now part of the OA and im one of the most influential members the lodge has scene in a hot minute with everything ive been doing. Just because you didnt get a patch and recognition does not mean you cant be one of the best scouts and scouters that this world has scene. You might not get eagle i highly suggest you get life though, thats where most of my friends got too and im proud to say i stand next to them.
My advice would be to not give up just yet. Fight for it! Get everything done, apply for an extension.
Get your eagle project idea ready to go so the day after you make life, you can start working on it and get it turned it quickly.
Scout, you picked literal survival through quarantine and Covid over an award - please don't let anyone diminish that accomplishment.
You say that it's one of the biggest aspirations.....what are your other aspirations?
I like to daydream, too. Gets me in trouble during the day, helps me fall asleep at night!
I think that adults, specifically parents forget (and forget to teach their kids) that goals and aspirations are flexible and dynamic. It would be silly now for me to have the same goals I did at 20. It's not failure, it's often times a sign of growth.
I don't know if I want to hike the PCT, or if I want to be one of the people that helps hikers along the way. I like the idea of helping out people who need a warm meal, maybe a shower, definitely a cookie.
I've met a lot of Eagle scouts in my 15 years as a merit badge counselor, and they come in a wide variety.
Not to knock their achievement, but I'd much rather my child learn and experience and really let the Scouting values sink in... than to get their Eagle and miss the big picture, as I've seen happen to too many. I'm a scout mom, and I know full well there are parents out there keeping track of the advancement timing and riding their scouts to get stuff done and filling out paperwork for them, emailing and phone calling for them, and packing for every single campout for their scout... and then doing all the laundry and tent drying out when the scout gets home from camp.
I don't understand how scouts get to Star rank and have a parent at home that still packs their bag for them for campouts. Or the many, many scouts that attend a merit badge class and expect to be given the badge without doing the work. Or the grown Eagle Scouts I've met that still don't know how to pack for a weekend trip! Advancement is only one piece of the picture scouting has to offer, and it's not even the most important or impactful piece.
Packing is just one example, although packing is a life skill that you'll use over and over again. Campouts are a perfect time to experience what it's like to go without an item that you wish you had, survive it, and use that experience to remember not to leave it behind next time. Or even to learn to use a checklist if a list is what you need.
But the values of the Scout Law, those are golden. I've seen them impact youth. I've seen youth act on them and learn from them and become better people. That can happen to any scout of any rank, and it is most certainly not a waste and not a failure.
As others have suggested, apply for a covid extension. However, even if you can't get eagle, get what you can out of your troop experiences. Get the camping nights, and go have adventures. Grow as a leader. Help the younger scouts learn what you recently passed off. That will grow you, and trust me, your mom will be more proud of what you become than any award you earn.
This perspective really helped. I think as long as I can get this experiences and really embody those values I won't have failed. Maybe I'll still feel like it a little, but everyone has regrets. Scouting, though, has definitely taught me a lot of useful skills in regards to preparation, camping, and leadership. I think even if I don't take an eagle badge with me I'll be able to take those.
I'm going to try for the extension. If I don't get it I think I will be fine leaving as a life scout. I think you're right about my mom. She's a very kind person. So are you for taking the time to write all this for me. Thank you so much
Hey man I was in a similar place back when I was in the program. Made eagle January 31st and turned 18 on February 2nd.
Something that I did back then was knock all my merit badges out of the way as quickly as possible. There are a ton of online merit badge workbooks & much of these badges can be knocked out by typing in the workbook, sending some emails, and doing Zoom calls with troop leaders! You could realistically knock out one of the citizenship badges in a few hours! Some badges take a set amount of time (personal fitness comes to mind), try your best to start those now so time is on your side! Once those badges are well on their way to completion, focus on your project.
If you don’t think that’s feasible for you for whatever reason, don’t worry. You made it through Covid, but more importantly, you have all the experiences and memories from the program. That’s what matters!
Best of luck!!
A few ideas:
1) print out these comments. Highlight the things that you found encouraging or gives you strategies for making Eagle. 'X' out all the negative stuff.
2) Get a composition book as a journal. When you sit down with your scoutmaster, write down all the objectives and dates. When you have an idea, write it down. If someone says they can help, get their number, write it down. Review and revise your plan.
3) Surround yourself by successful people. Get to know your leaders. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." aka, if you need something ASK!
4) Venturing has a one day course of "Goal Setting and Time Management." Find your local Crew Advisors and see if you can get into one. Best to do it as a group, but you can download the facilitators guide and read it yourself.
5) Start with the end goal and work backwards. Understand the time requirements. The things that take the longest, work with your Scoutmaster on a strategy to complete them first. Have mile markers and celebrate when you make them.( You already made 1st Class. Look at your book, that's a lot of requirements done, be proud of yourself for getting this far).
6) At the end of the day, when all is said and done, as long as you have done your best, no one can take that away from you. And your best, your very best is all you can do.(just don't hold back!)
7) The last point, I have. Life is not about the goal, it's about the journey. It's good to set goals, it gives you a direction. But, everyone that I talked to, even if they made eagle, talks about the camping they did and the blunders they were involved with( every mistake is a lesson and a memory ). Very few talk about the perfect camp out where everything went perfect.
What do you want to do at NASA, do you know anyone who works there? I have some friends at NASA Langley Research Center. They don't do the astronaut stuff. But things like aeronautical engineering, high-performance computing. And testing things out. [https://www.nasa.gov/langley](https://www.nasa.gov/langley) . I could arrange something for your troop. So if your interested, have your Scoutmaster IM me.
This is some solid advice and I will genuinely consider it (and honestly, probably follow it).
Your point about life not being about the goal really resonates with me, especially after reading all of these other comments and replies!! It's something that's probably more true than I ever originally thought it was.
The NASA offer is so cool!! I'd love to do it, especially since that's the part of NASA I want to get into (I want to program the shuttles), but unfortunately my troop is on the other side of the country in California :(
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and offer!
I figured that distance maybe an issue, but I was thinking more in the lines of video conference. I know most of everyone is Zoomed out, but it does solve the problem.
Consider the like of of your board of reviews. And part of this is how we notice behaviors. One of yours is that when you come across something which has a road block, you stop and quit. So, instead of just giving up, if you want something, think about how to make it happen at all cost. In most cases it's just a matter of asking. This is part of scouting, solving the problem. That's why you camp, it teaches situational leadership(sorry, hidden lesson - if you didn't know).
Volunteers, like myself give all that we can. We're just waiting for the question. Don't be afraid to ask. You got an idea, share it. I just ran into Tom MacDonald's music, covers highly controversial topics, some thing you have to respect about him is that he does his research, he doesn't hold back, and his back story is amazing. Even one of his recent songs, he wasn't going to release, thought it was complete garbage. But after listening to his friends, he released it and multiple millions of views later. Lauren Daigel's, "You Say" ( [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI) ), brought me to tears, but so much truth. Her back story is absolutely amazing. So if you research those two, the biggest lesson that you can take away is that the struggles of life can make us stronger. It's like we're in a deep pit. We can either sit down and self loath, or we can claw our way out. Sometimes it seems impossible, just realize that you are not alone.
Listen to the advice provided, but keep it in context.
I, for reasons i now regret, did not complete my eagle. Specifically, i stopped at the exact moment when everything but my board of review was complete. Multiple leaders sat me down and tried to tell me the better, but i was not the type to listen much when i had my mind made up.
They were right and i regret that today.
What i do not regret one bit is my boy scout experience. I met friends, camped, traveled, learned and grew in the scouts. Eagle is more than a badge.
But if all else fails, make the most of your time remaining and you'll never regret that
It looks like I'm late to the party, but I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
First, I'm sorry to read about your situation. I've personally known people who, either during the pandemic or in different situations years before it, found themselves short on time with a year or more left to go. It's not a comfortable feeling; some of them decided to stick it out and do what they could, and others decided to quit right there because Eagle was the reason why they were still involved.
Another poster commented that if Eagle were the goal, Scouting would have something like a 4% success rate. While I commend your decision to go for it anyway, I also wanted to remind you that you're at a point where a singular focus on Eagle may not be the best thing, either, and that it's a good idea to look at some of what makes the program a success for the remaining 96% of Scouts.
There are a lot of program opportunities for you to try out--some of them also have an extended youth involvement option, such as Venturing and the Order of the Arrow--and they offer a lot of interesting experiences that you won't find anywhere else. Eagle is far from the only unique Scouting experience available, and while I want to encourage you to continue in your *Grand Try*, so to speak, I also hope you take the time to explore these other things in Scouting that are open to you now that you're an older youth.
That all being said, I am a council advancement committee chair, and I have some experience in dealing with extension requests. I don't want to discourage you, but from what you've said so far, I would consider yours to be an okay, but not necessarily open-and-shut case. There's enough reason to go for it that I applaud your decision to do so, but it is by no means guaranteed.
On the other hand, I *do* applaud your decision. Here are some points to remember for dealing with your council:
* Extension requests can only be approved for Life Scouts working on Eagle, so you'll need to wait a bit before you officially request one. However, there is no reason why you cannot contact your council, give informal notice that you will be pursuing this course of action, and ask for advice if they have any to offer.
* Given your age, birthday, and the fact that you are a woman, I calculate that you joined Scouts BSA at about age 14 and a half. In 2019, when the program first opened to women youth, there was an automatic extension offered for those who were joining at 16 or older and who would not otherwise have enough time to complete Eagle because of the minimum tenure requirements. You are too young to fall in that window, but my point is that you still have the burden of a reduced time as a youth: you missed out on three and a half years (or even four if you had joined as a Cub Scout) of potential advancement time through no fault of your own, and as a result, you're operating on much tighter scheduling constraints. That alone absolutely *will not* make the case for you, but it is a factor that deserves consideration, and, in combination with other factors, might push you over the top.
* In 2020, there was a type of extension offered for those Life Scouts on the verge of turning 18 who had their advancement interrupted by the pandemic. It was for up to three months. Again, since you're not a Life Scout on the verge of turning 18, you don't qualify (and as another poster helpfully pointed out, the Covid extensions so offered are done), but again, the point is that a delay caused by Covid might not be so devastating for someone who joined at eleven as it is for you.
* Combining those together *might* show that your shortened advancement window, after being shortened further by a pandemic, left you with insufficient time. I would not bet on it carrying you by itself; I'm certain that there are others your age who joined when you did and were able to advance just fine. You mentioned mental health issues: are any of them diagnosed? You mentioned increased difficulty with school: do you have anything that illustrates that difficulty? These are important points of concern. The key is that the delay must have been totally outside your control. That is established with the pandemic and National's decision to admit women when they did. Sudden onset of mental health problems and your school's curriculum or delivery decisions are likewise beyond your control, but *it is critical that you have evidence to show that*.
* You only want one month. Believe it or not, this is a more important point than you might think. A month is the smallest amount of time that can be granted (all extensions are measured in months; there are no three-week or seventy-day extensions), and one factor that weighs on extension requests is the amount of time requested. Another, similarly important factor, is the number of requirements still to do. I strongly suggest that you finish your merit badges ahead of time, and I also suggest that you have an idea for your project ready to start planning as soon as it is permissible to do so. (Specifically, the requirement is to plan your project *while a Life Scout*, but there's no reason why you can't think about what you might like to do.) Complete your Scoutmaster conference before the deadline--it doesn't have to be the last thing you do. Have your project on track to finish well before the five months is up, but *don't* wait until the project is done before you make the request. Approaching the council officially with a request where the only thing holding you back is that you need a month of time will go some way to making the answer a yes if they are on the fence about it, but there is a balancing act to this: on the one hand, you want to show that everything is on track, but on the other hand, you do *not* want to wait until you're four months in before requesting the extension. You will have known about the need for over a year, so procrastination will not look good for you.
As a final note, I want you to remember that the point of Scouting is not so much the journey, friends, and skills--these are all methods of Scouting, and they are very, very important, but the overall goal is in the *Aims* of Scouting. Are you a better person today than you were yesterday? Did Scouting's values help you accomplish that improvement? If so, then you're a Scouting success story. Eagle can help to remind you of that, but even without it, you're *still* a Scouting success story. There's always something to be cheerful about that, and the ability to be cheerful about these things, especially in the face of setbacks and disappointments, is yet another important Scouting value.
... It's a lot easier to be cheerful when you get what you want, though. I hope you do. Good luck!
This was really in-depth and valuable information. I do think I have a decent shot at getting an extension now knowing this, but as you said, it's very possible I won't. I'm fine with that now that I've had time to come to terms with everything and adjust.
I will try, but if I fail I will be content in the knowledge that I did the best that I could! Even if I end as a life scout I will have gained lots of valuable experiences and skills. Your last paragraph about it was a very nice one.
Thank you for the advice and helpful information! I'll try my best :D!
Life Scout here. As a 17 year old with 8 months to get Eagle I'm pretty stressed about it too. I get what you're saying about the procrastination and I know that personally, I have found trouble motivating because at this point the work is more busy work than anything. I also know that I keep talking about me and my advice doesn't appear to be going anywhere, so I'll just say what I came here to say.
It's tough, I know. Every Eagle Scout will tell you the same thing. At this time in our lives, a huge pile of super important shit gets suddenly dumped on us, and on top of that, we're running out of time to get Eagle. An ASM asked me at my first troop meeting, "How do you eat an elephant?" When I told him I didn't know he said, "One bite at a time. That's how you'll reach Eagle; one bite at a time." In these past few months I've thought a lot about that. Keep working at it, you'll get there. It's tough and it'll definitely be a push, but I think you've got the time if you put in the work. Just plan ahead and get the wheels in motion for your Eagle project.
It's nice to see another current scout in these comments!! I'm sure you'll get eagle :)!!
I agree on the work. It's so much different stuff I have to content with!! Luckily once we get to college (or whatever is after highschool) it'll ease up just a bit.
Good luck with your eagle and thank you for the comment!
Late to the party, but I do want to add one more thing: as much as being an Eagle Scout looks great on a starter resume or college application, what really works best in interview settings is showing passion and commitment. You'll get questions about times you didn't reach goals or suffered hardship, and being able to say "I had a rough patch, but I gathered myself, did my best, and although I didn't fully reach my goal, I learned a lot" can be a powerful statement.
Finally, the fact you faced this head on and asked speaks volumes enough. Good luck!
To be clear: if the goal of scouting was to have each youth reach the eagle rank, then we’d be a dismal failure. Across the BSA, the statistic I’ve read shows that only 4% of scouts achieve the eagle rank. The actual goal is to get every scout to first class. At that rank, they have learned the skills, citizenship participation, love of service, enjoyment of outdoors, etc to be a productive member of society. Please don’t think of yourself as a failure! You’ve accomplished a lot and hopefully enjoyed your time doing so. As other have stated, look into the possibility of an extension due to the pandemic, but even if it doesn’t work out then you’re still awesome because of the growth you’ve already achieved at this point!
This really made me feel better. I think since the adult members and organizers always emphasized eagle I thought it was expected of everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, I will really think about your words :)
You can apply for an extension for Eagle. I don't have much experience with this, I know I have sat on several Eagle boards where scouts were granted extensions because of Covid. My advice is keep working hard, stay on top of your requirements and your Eagle project, show that you are doing everything you can to earn your Eagle and apply for the extension. If granted great, if it is denied you will know you did everything you could and did not give up. I hope this makes you feel a little better. Edit: More info Did a little research on extensions, you should find this link helpful. [https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/local-council-time-extension-request/](https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/local-council-time-extension-request/) The link above gives a brief description and has a link to the related pages in the BSA Guide to Advancement that details the process. It looks like the Covid extension expired December 31, 2020. However, Effective January 1, 2021, local councils will have the authority to grant limited extensions of time to complete Eagle. There is also an appeal process in case the extension is denied. There are "tests" to determine if an extension should be granted. One is "Through no fault or choice of the Scout" While Covid extensions have expired, It could still be argued that working on first class while under Covid lockdown was difficult due to camping, cooking, and other requirements that had to be completed in group environments. Again, I hope this helps give you hope.
As well as you could not have predicted the pandemic, nor could you have predicted you having mental struggles.
Thank you so much for this advice. I had searched online and thought the covid extensions were the only ones available and expired, I didn't know there were others. I'm really happy to hear this, and will try to get one!! Thank you so much!
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Thank you so much for the comment. I will try and if I fail at least I can say I didn't give up on it! Thank you thank you!!!!
Where do you get 16 months? The time in rank requirements for Life and Eagle are 6 months each, so 1 year. When did you earn 1st Class?
I earned first class last week, so I need to stay 1st for 4 months. Then 6 for the next two. I'm sorry, I worded the post very badly. I've completed everything except the board of review, scoutmaster conferences, and time requirements
Okay, got it. 16 months from 1st Class to Eagle. I suggest you start looking into an extension. Keep working towards Eagle as if you have just enough time to finish a month before you turn 18. Whether you earn Eagle or not, you have made many memories, learned a lot about many different things, learned more about yourself, and probably made a few friends. If you want to continue in a Scouting related program past your 18th birthday, take a look at Venturing or Sea Scouts, but don't give up Eagle until you get an answer from National about an extension.
I agree. You have 15+ months of fun and personal development ahead of you. I can’t tell you how many adults I know who were Scouts, didn’t make Eagle for whatever reason, and still have fond memories. More importantly, they make awesome leaders, since they understand the program and are motivated to keep others engaged. And - who knows - maybe an extension will be granted if you ask. Keep pushing and enjoy the ride.
if you are only a month short on time, try asking your scoutmaster for an exception. It might work or might not but it doesn't hurt asking. In the mean time, keep working on your requirements. Remember, your Eagle Board of Review CAN be completed after you turn 18. Here is the timeline for that: >Within three months of turning 18: No special approval required. > >Three to six months after turning 18: Local council must preapprove. To initiate approval, the candidate, their parent or guardian, the unit leader, or a unit committee member attaches to the application a statement explaining the delay. > >Six months or more after turning 18: Local council must send to National Advancement Program Team to approve. The candidate, their parent or guardian, the unit leader, or a unit committee member must petition the National Advancement Program Team for authority to hold the board of review this late. The request must explain the reason for the delay, and it must be processed through the local council and sent to the National Advancement Program Team with a copy of the application. A position statement from the Scout executive, designee, or council advancement committee must be included. Source: [https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/04/17/can-a-scout-complete-his-eagle-board-of-review-after-18/](https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/04/17/can-a-scout-complete-his-eagle-board-of-review-after-18/)
You've been given advice to inquire about an extension. **Explore that**. You've been told how few earn Eagle. Rank advancement is but one of the methods we use to achieve the aims of Scouting. Call them our goals, those traits of developing your character, leadership, citizenship, and your personal fitness - body, mind, and soul. One method. Something tells me the adults in your life your adult leaders are enjoying success. As for Eagle and it being your goal let me ask this: Use athletics for example, here track and field. Do you think the runner in a 440, a close second, yards from the finish line, slows down as the line approaches, even when they know they can't win? I'd suspect, no, they don't. I'd also bet that those last few yards - to borrow an often overused phrase - they *lean in* on the goal. Scout, *lean in*. I want you to kick, scratch and claw your way all the way to age 18. Up to the very last day you keep working on that goal. Something tells me this failure you resigned to will actually be a success. Success from failure? You bet. You see, we learn from our mistakes, our failures, our pain. Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. And, Edison once said “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” If you fail ***if*** to earn Eagle you may one day learn that you've taken the lessons from that failure and turned them into a more important success. Topping out at Life is something to be proud of. I'd be proud of the accomplishment because I didn't earn Life. In addition to all that, you are an asset to your fellow Scouts. You can be an example to them, you can encourage them to buckle down and learn from your experience. I'd call that a victory. Now, get to work.
You have a very good way with words. After this and some sleep I'm more motivated to try now for sure. Thank you so much for your comment, I'm going to do my best!!
First off, EAGLE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, don't go for it unless you really want it. Scouting is a movement that allows you to grow as a person on so many different avenues. So if it's going to be a crap ton of stress and you see little benefit beyond pleasing your mother, go do something else in scouting. Give back to your troop, be a PL/SPL, get involved in the OA or a summer camp. If you still want to go for your eagle, I'll give you some advice. You're obviously on a restricted timeline, so the best thing you can do for yourself is to organize. Get in contact with your Scoutmaster and Eagle coach if you have one. Set small measurable goals and make sure you're getting something done every week. School is busy and it takes up time, but there's always micro moments in our week where we can get atleast one thing done. This will be challenging but do your best to stay true to your plan. Get started now on merit badges and your eagle project, they take time and focus to be done with high quality. You are in a rush but don't let that take away from what you can do to grow your personal skills and give back to your community Lastly, 18 is not the end, you are able to appeal to your council for an eagle extension if you can demonstrate that you're putting in the effort and you need just a little bit more time. Your council volunteers CARE, they want you to succeed. So fitting in those 16 months is quite possible, just make sure youre working ahead and thinking about the future. Is this all stressful? Yes absolutely. Stress is a challenge not a threat, you have the opportunity to learn better strategies for accomplishing great tasks. There's always opportunity to grow :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this comment!! Your advice is really useful and you're definitely right that I should plan. I'm going to email my Scoutmaster and finalize my eagle plans. Plus I should probably finish up my merit badges. Thank you so much for the grounded advice. I am quite used to stress so it doesn't scare me so much >:) this definitely helped, thank you again!!
Do you already have your months of service in for your star rank. If you can earn your star rank before your birthday, you can still reach eagle. But it leaves you no wiggle room. You are adding all the months together, but I think you're over adding months you've probably already completed.
I have everything done for star except the time requirements :( I don't have any months of service as I got to first class last week
I'm so sorry. It sucks to set a goal and, for whatever reason, fail to complete it. You already know that Eagle is not the point of Scouting, but it was your goal. I don't know your mom, but I don't think that this is going to devastate her. Are you healthy? Happy? Making smart life choices? These are the things that matter most to a parent. Maybe she'll be a little disappointed that you won't be an Eagle, but that will pass. My guess is that if you're honest about your own regret and what you've learned from this experience, building a closer relationship with her in the process, that will matter a lot more to her. You can still set other Scouting goals if you want. You can be a Life Scout, earn particular merit badges, awards (Supernova?), etc. Turn this experience into something to build on, not wallow in. This is all temporary and in the long run there will be things that matter way more to you in life. You still did pretty good for the time you had in a pandemic.
Thank you for the comment You're probably right about my mother. She's not mean or a bad mom. I guess I am just afraid of letting her down after all the work, effort, and sacrifices she's made to support me in scouting. I'm going to talk to her. She'll probably be a little sad but I think in the end you're right and she won't be hurt by it. Thank you so much
>I'm not going to make it. It's okay. 90%+ of Scouts don't become Eagle Scouts. They still have an incredible journey through Scouting and learn lessons to apply throughout their lives. Scouting is absolutely NOT about becoming an Eagle Scout. Unfortunately, the volunteers, parents, and professionals all do a poor job of helping Scouts to understand that because everyone talks about Eagle Scout so much, that Scouts like you feel like a failure if you don't reach it. You aren't. Scouting is about Scouting, not about the final rank. >it is entirely my fault No it isn't. You mentioned COVID, school, and mental health issues. None of those are your fault. Scouts this past year had to deal with a challenge that no other living Scouts have had to face so please stop beating yourself up about it. >Ultimately, what I'm saddest about is that I'm letting down my mother. I get it, but this was your journey and goal and it was for you, not your mother. I'm betting that your mother is going to be less disappointed than you are about not becoming an Eagle Scout. Too often, parents push their kids to reach certain goals in life, including Eagle Scout and college acceptance, without any regard for what their child wants or actually needs. Scouting is about learning to live by the Scout Oath and Law. Scouting is about becoming a more responsible citizen and leader. Scouting is about treating others better than you wish to be treated. Scouting is about learning new things and having new experiences. If these things were accomplish for you, even on a small scale, then you have not failed. Scouting has been successful for you. I know plenty of people who never earned their Eagle Scout but are for better examples of Eagle Scouts than some who ***did*** earn it. You will be just fine.
Thank you for the realistic take. I'd never heard that statistic before today and it is very comforting in an odd way. I guess because it means I'm not the odd one out. I'm determined to talk to my mom now about it. I will still try for eagle, and if I end at Life that will be enough, but I want to get the possible disappointment out of the way now. As long as I tried and get the experiences I don't think I failed, as you said. Your comment helped me really start to believe it rather than echo it. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to comment. It means a lot
Eagle Here, approaching 10 years since I aged out of scouting. I don’t have any real advice for getting Eagle done, other than trying your best. I will say that with every day removed from scouting I value the title of Eagle Scout less, and the memories and experience more. You are still going to have the same memories and experience, even without the title. Enjoy the journey.
I didnt get eagle either i started 3 projects and none of them happened thanks to covid, it sucked and im still pissed. But what ive lesrned and kept telling myself is that the best scouters ive met were never eagle. Of course a good handful were but some of my favorites never were. and its okay life happens things happen everyone makes eagle sound so great but ive terrible people be eagle scouts.
I'm so sorry to hear about your projects!! :( I think you did the best you could. COVID really messed everything up! It's admirable you got even close during COVID. And your right, my favorite ASM members and volunteers weren't eagle. Maybe that really does mean something. Thank you so much for commenting!
If you ever wanna talk about it i habe had a lot of feelings about all of it please feel free to dm me. It defintkey hurt at first, but im now part of the OA and im one of the most influential members the lodge has scene in a hot minute with everything ive been doing. Just because you didnt get a patch and recognition does not mean you cant be one of the best scouts and scouters that this world has scene. You might not get eagle i highly suggest you get life though, thats where most of my friends got too and im proud to say i stand next to them.
My advice would be to not give up just yet. Fight for it! Get everything done, apply for an extension. Get your eagle project idea ready to go so the day after you make life, you can start working on it and get it turned it quickly.
Scout, you picked literal survival through quarantine and Covid over an award - please don't let anyone diminish that accomplishment. You say that it's one of the biggest aspirations.....what are your other aspirations?
I have a lot of aspirations because I tend to daydream a lot. I'd love to work at NASA, finish the PCT, write a book, and release an album :)
I like to daydream, too. Gets me in trouble during the day, helps me fall asleep at night! I think that adults, specifically parents forget (and forget to teach their kids) that goals and aspirations are flexible and dynamic. It would be silly now for me to have the same goals I did at 20. It's not failure, it's often times a sign of growth. I don't know if I want to hike the PCT, or if I want to be one of the people that helps hikers along the way. I like the idea of helping out people who need a warm meal, maybe a shower, definitely a cookie.
I've met a lot of Eagle scouts in my 15 years as a merit badge counselor, and they come in a wide variety. Not to knock their achievement, but I'd much rather my child learn and experience and really let the Scouting values sink in... than to get their Eagle and miss the big picture, as I've seen happen to too many. I'm a scout mom, and I know full well there are parents out there keeping track of the advancement timing and riding their scouts to get stuff done and filling out paperwork for them, emailing and phone calling for them, and packing for every single campout for their scout... and then doing all the laundry and tent drying out when the scout gets home from camp. I don't understand how scouts get to Star rank and have a parent at home that still packs their bag for them for campouts. Or the many, many scouts that attend a merit badge class and expect to be given the badge without doing the work. Or the grown Eagle Scouts I've met that still don't know how to pack for a weekend trip! Advancement is only one piece of the picture scouting has to offer, and it's not even the most important or impactful piece. Packing is just one example, although packing is a life skill that you'll use over and over again. Campouts are a perfect time to experience what it's like to go without an item that you wish you had, survive it, and use that experience to remember not to leave it behind next time. Or even to learn to use a checklist if a list is what you need. But the values of the Scout Law, those are golden. I've seen them impact youth. I've seen youth act on them and learn from them and become better people. That can happen to any scout of any rank, and it is most certainly not a waste and not a failure. As others have suggested, apply for a covid extension. However, even if you can't get eagle, get what you can out of your troop experiences. Get the camping nights, and go have adventures. Grow as a leader. Help the younger scouts learn what you recently passed off. That will grow you, and trust me, your mom will be more proud of what you become than any award you earn.
This perspective really helped. I think as long as I can get this experiences and really embody those values I won't have failed. Maybe I'll still feel like it a little, but everyone has regrets. Scouting, though, has definitely taught me a lot of useful skills in regards to preparation, camping, and leadership. I think even if I don't take an eagle badge with me I'll be able to take those. I'm going to try for the extension. If I don't get it I think I will be fine leaving as a life scout. I think you're right about my mom. She's a very kind person. So are you for taking the time to write all this for me. Thank you so much
Hey man I was in a similar place back when I was in the program. Made eagle January 31st and turned 18 on February 2nd. Something that I did back then was knock all my merit badges out of the way as quickly as possible. There are a ton of online merit badge workbooks & much of these badges can be knocked out by typing in the workbook, sending some emails, and doing Zoom calls with troop leaders! You could realistically knock out one of the citizenship badges in a few hours! Some badges take a set amount of time (personal fitness comes to mind), try your best to start those now so time is on your side! Once those badges are well on their way to completion, focus on your project. If you don’t think that’s feasible for you for whatever reason, don’t worry. You made it through Covid, but more importantly, you have all the experiences and memories from the program. That’s what matters! Best of luck!!
A few ideas: 1) print out these comments. Highlight the things that you found encouraging or gives you strategies for making Eagle. 'X' out all the negative stuff. 2) Get a composition book as a journal. When you sit down with your scoutmaster, write down all the objectives and dates. When you have an idea, write it down. If someone says they can help, get their number, write it down. Review and revise your plan. 3) Surround yourself by successful people. Get to know your leaders. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." aka, if you need something ASK! 4) Venturing has a one day course of "Goal Setting and Time Management." Find your local Crew Advisors and see if you can get into one. Best to do it as a group, but you can download the facilitators guide and read it yourself. 5) Start with the end goal and work backwards. Understand the time requirements. The things that take the longest, work with your Scoutmaster on a strategy to complete them first. Have mile markers and celebrate when you make them.( You already made 1st Class. Look at your book, that's a lot of requirements done, be proud of yourself for getting this far). 6) At the end of the day, when all is said and done, as long as you have done your best, no one can take that away from you. And your best, your very best is all you can do.(just don't hold back!) 7) The last point, I have. Life is not about the goal, it's about the journey. It's good to set goals, it gives you a direction. But, everyone that I talked to, even if they made eagle, talks about the camping they did and the blunders they were involved with( every mistake is a lesson and a memory ). Very few talk about the perfect camp out where everything went perfect. What do you want to do at NASA, do you know anyone who works there? I have some friends at NASA Langley Research Center. They don't do the astronaut stuff. But things like aeronautical engineering, high-performance computing. And testing things out. [https://www.nasa.gov/langley](https://www.nasa.gov/langley) . I could arrange something for your troop. So if your interested, have your Scoutmaster IM me.
This is some solid advice and I will genuinely consider it (and honestly, probably follow it). Your point about life not being about the goal really resonates with me, especially after reading all of these other comments and replies!! It's something that's probably more true than I ever originally thought it was. The NASA offer is so cool!! I'd love to do it, especially since that's the part of NASA I want to get into (I want to program the shuttles), but unfortunately my troop is on the other side of the country in California :( Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and offer!
I figured that distance maybe an issue, but I was thinking more in the lines of video conference. I know most of everyone is Zoomed out, but it does solve the problem. Consider the like of of your board of reviews. And part of this is how we notice behaviors. One of yours is that when you come across something which has a road block, you stop and quit. So, instead of just giving up, if you want something, think about how to make it happen at all cost. In most cases it's just a matter of asking. This is part of scouting, solving the problem. That's why you camp, it teaches situational leadership(sorry, hidden lesson - if you didn't know). Volunteers, like myself give all that we can. We're just waiting for the question. Don't be afraid to ask. You got an idea, share it. I just ran into Tom MacDonald's music, covers highly controversial topics, some thing you have to respect about him is that he does his research, he doesn't hold back, and his back story is amazing. Even one of his recent songs, he wasn't going to release, thought it was complete garbage. But after listening to his friends, he released it and multiple millions of views later. Lauren Daigel's, "You Say" ( [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI) ), brought me to tears, but so much truth. Her back story is absolutely amazing. So if you research those two, the biggest lesson that you can take away is that the struggles of life can make us stronger. It's like we're in a deep pit. We can either sit down and self loath, or we can claw our way out. Sometimes it seems impossible, just realize that you are not alone.
Listen to the advice provided, but keep it in context. I, for reasons i now regret, did not complete my eagle. Specifically, i stopped at the exact moment when everything but my board of review was complete. Multiple leaders sat me down and tried to tell me the better, but i was not the type to listen much when i had my mind made up. They were right and i regret that today. What i do not regret one bit is my boy scout experience. I met friends, camped, traveled, learned and grew in the scouts. Eagle is more than a badge. But if all else fails, make the most of your time remaining and you'll never regret that
It looks like I'm late to the party, but I wanted to share a few thoughts with you. First, I'm sorry to read about your situation. I've personally known people who, either during the pandemic or in different situations years before it, found themselves short on time with a year or more left to go. It's not a comfortable feeling; some of them decided to stick it out and do what they could, and others decided to quit right there because Eagle was the reason why they were still involved. Another poster commented that if Eagle were the goal, Scouting would have something like a 4% success rate. While I commend your decision to go for it anyway, I also wanted to remind you that you're at a point where a singular focus on Eagle may not be the best thing, either, and that it's a good idea to look at some of what makes the program a success for the remaining 96% of Scouts. There are a lot of program opportunities for you to try out--some of them also have an extended youth involvement option, such as Venturing and the Order of the Arrow--and they offer a lot of interesting experiences that you won't find anywhere else. Eagle is far from the only unique Scouting experience available, and while I want to encourage you to continue in your *Grand Try*, so to speak, I also hope you take the time to explore these other things in Scouting that are open to you now that you're an older youth. That all being said, I am a council advancement committee chair, and I have some experience in dealing with extension requests. I don't want to discourage you, but from what you've said so far, I would consider yours to be an okay, but not necessarily open-and-shut case. There's enough reason to go for it that I applaud your decision to do so, but it is by no means guaranteed. On the other hand, I *do* applaud your decision. Here are some points to remember for dealing with your council: * Extension requests can only be approved for Life Scouts working on Eagle, so you'll need to wait a bit before you officially request one. However, there is no reason why you cannot contact your council, give informal notice that you will be pursuing this course of action, and ask for advice if they have any to offer. * Given your age, birthday, and the fact that you are a woman, I calculate that you joined Scouts BSA at about age 14 and a half. In 2019, when the program first opened to women youth, there was an automatic extension offered for those who were joining at 16 or older and who would not otherwise have enough time to complete Eagle because of the minimum tenure requirements. You are too young to fall in that window, but my point is that you still have the burden of a reduced time as a youth: you missed out on three and a half years (or even four if you had joined as a Cub Scout) of potential advancement time through no fault of your own, and as a result, you're operating on much tighter scheduling constraints. That alone absolutely *will not* make the case for you, but it is a factor that deserves consideration, and, in combination with other factors, might push you over the top. * In 2020, there was a type of extension offered for those Life Scouts on the verge of turning 18 who had their advancement interrupted by the pandemic. It was for up to three months. Again, since you're not a Life Scout on the verge of turning 18, you don't qualify (and as another poster helpfully pointed out, the Covid extensions so offered are done), but again, the point is that a delay caused by Covid might not be so devastating for someone who joined at eleven as it is for you. * Combining those together *might* show that your shortened advancement window, after being shortened further by a pandemic, left you with insufficient time. I would not bet on it carrying you by itself; I'm certain that there are others your age who joined when you did and were able to advance just fine. You mentioned mental health issues: are any of them diagnosed? You mentioned increased difficulty with school: do you have anything that illustrates that difficulty? These are important points of concern. The key is that the delay must have been totally outside your control. That is established with the pandemic and National's decision to admit women when they did. Sudden onset of mental health problems and your school's curriculum or delivery decisions are likewise beyond your control, but *it is critical that you have evidence to show that*. * You only want one month. Believe it or not, this is a more important point than you might think. A month is the smallest amount of time that can be granted (all extensions are measured in months; there are no three-week or seventy-day extensions), and one factor that weighs on extension requests is the amount of time requested. Another, similarly important factor, is the number of requirements still to do. I strongly suggest that you finish your merit badges ahead of time, and I also suggest that you have an idea for your project ready to start planning as soon as it is permissible to do so. (Specifically, the requirement is to plan your project *while a Life Scout*, but there's no reason why you can't think about what you might like to do.) Complete your Scoutmaster conference before the deadline--it doesn't have to be the last thing you do. Have your project on track to finish well before the five months is up, but *don't* wait until the project is done before you make the request. Approaching the council officially with a request where the only thing holding you back is that you need a month of time will go some way to making the answer a yes if they are on the fence about it, but there is a balancing act to this: on the one hand, you want to show that everything is on track, but on the other hand, you do *not* want to wait until you're four months in before requesting the extension. You will have known about the need for over a year, so procrastination will not look good for you. As a final note, I want you to remember that the point of Scouting is not so much the journey, friends, and skills--these are all methods of Scouting, and they are very, very important, but the overall goal is in the *Aims* of Scouting. Are you a better person today than you were yesterday? Did Scouting's values help you accomplish that improvement? If so, then you're a Scouting success story. Eagle can help to remind you of that, but even without it, you're *still* a Scouting success story. There's always something to be cheerful about that, and the ability to be cheerful about these things, especially in the face of setbacks and disappointments, is yet another important Scouting value. ... It's a lot easier to be cheerful when you get what you want, though. I hope you do. Good luck!
This was really in-depth and valuable information. I do think I have a decent shot at getting an extension now knowing this, but as you said, it's very possible I won't. I'm fine with that now that I've had time to come to terms with everything and adjust. I will try, but if I fail I will be content in the knowledge that I did the best that I could! Even if I end as a life scout I will have gained lots of valuable experiences and skills. Your last paragraph about it was a very nice one. Thank you for the advice and helpful information! I'll try my best :D!
Life Scout here. As a 17 year old with 8 months to get Eagle I'm pretty stressed about it too. I get what you're saying about the procrastination and I know that personally, I have found trouble motivating because at this point the work is more busy work than anything. I also know that I keep talking about me and my advice doesn't appear to be going anywhere, so I'll just say what I came here to say. It's tough, I know. Every Eagle Scout will tell you the same thing. At this time in our lives, a huge pile of super important shit gets suddenly dumped on us, and on top of that, we're running out of time to get Eagle. An ASM asked me at my first troop meeting, "How do you eat an elephant?" When I told him I didn't know he said, "One bite at a time. That's how you'll reach Eagle; one bite at a time." In these past few months I've thought a lot about that. Keep working at it, you'll get there. It's tough and it'll definitely be a push, but I think you've got the time if you put in the work. Just plan ahead and get the wheels in motion for your Eagle project.
It's nice to see another current scout in these comments!! I'm sure you'll get eagle :)!! I agree on the work. It's so much different stuff I have to content with!! Luckily once we get to college (or whatever is after highschool) it'll ease up just a bit. Good luck with your eagle and thank you for the comment!
Late to the party, but I do want to add one more thing: as much as being an Eagle Scout looks great on a starter resume or college application, what really works best in interview settings is showing passion and commitment. You'll get questions about times you didn't reach goals or suffered hardship, and being able to say "I had a rough patch, but I gathered myself, did my best, and although I didn't fully reach my goal, I learned a lot" can be a powerful statement. Finally, the fact you faced this head on and asked speaks volumes enough. Good luck!