Every journey starts with a single step and my journey in scouting starts when I first wear my first ever neckerchief not as a scouter but an adult leader.
The beginning of an amazing Journey
Joining the scouting movement as a first-time member with a very little knowledge becomes a struggle to me and yet I tried to brace myself as a first timer for I don’t have a choice since I am already a teacher and an adult leader for the senior scouts as part of my job description. Acting as if I know something is one of the hardest roles that I am portraying.
Since scouting is part of every school year activity I yearn for knowledge and experience since I do not have any experience on it ever since my primary education years. And thankfully after 2 years in the service I got a chance to join the basic training. It was so fun and wonderful experience that made me long for more experience and knowledge. I feel like I was healing my inner childhood since I couldn’t join due to my frail body.
Three weeks after the basic training I joined the advance training course that took around 9 days staying in the camp without gadget, without comfort, without leisure just pure adventure, challenge and lecture. It was fun experience, happy moments and wonderful memory that I always reminisce that every time I see my crewmates, memories bring back and lingers to my mind. The training and the scouting movement then linger into my blood and bones that every time there’s an upcoming activity I thrive for excitement.
Pandemic arrives and the blazing passion for the activity that I long seem subsides. The activity is now gone and so as my knowledge that is about to share. The longing for the activity is growing but due to the worldwide calamity I need to face the reality. But it doesn’t make me stop dreaming of scouting. Years had passed and it was year 2022 the activity returns my mates were also excited and so we made a super exciting and memorable scouting. Wearing our new Neckerchief symbolizes our hard work, dedication for the scouting. Wearing it once again made me feel brand new and dream that I am dreaming has come finally into reality. A fun and wonderful memory to create once more.
Scouting is now part of my blood and bones, it is an activity that made me energetic and strong. It is one of the activities that made me forget the stress of my work. It is tiring but satisfying. It is the activity that runs into my core, that if there’s a moment to try it again I would do it and willing to pay to experience it again. Camping, trails, hiking, climbing, swimming, crawling, from tying to knotting, to singing to shouting. It is one of my core memories to remember.
From school camporal, to Municipal camporal and now Joining twice in Scout Jamborees, (Provincial and Regional). I feel static, that despite the busy schedule, tiring activity and planning, and even using my own money to finance in the activity seems nothing to me as long as it is for scouting and I am happy I am willing to do it.
My journey in scouting taught me that it’s never too late to start, to learn, and to grow. I may have begun as a clueless adult leader, but through challenges, training, and countless camps, I discovered that passion is built when you step out of your comfort zone.
Scouting reminded me that the real measure of growth is not how much you already know, but how much you’re willing to learn and experience. It showed me that leadership isn’t about pretending to know everything, it’s about walking with others, serving wholeheartedly, and finding joy in the shared journey.
At the end of the day, scouting is more than activities, badges, or uniforms. It is about resilience, brotherhood, and the spirit of service—values that continue to shape not just the leader I am, but the person I strive to be every day.
