The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest accomplishment one can achieve through the Boy Scouts of America. Only 4 percent of all boy scouts achieve this and it isn’t something to be taken lightly. In order to achieve this rank, you have to dedicate years of your life to prove that it’s something that you really do want and it’s something that you are willing to work for in order to obtain it.

On the road to Eagle, boys will put forth hundreds of hours of volunteer work and community service, earn at least 21 merit badges which provide a rigorous teaching on important life skills such as first aid, citizenship, cooking, lifesaving, environmental science, and many more.

The biggest process in becoming an Eagle Scout comes from the Eagle service project, where the scout must plan, lead, carry out, and work on a large project that in some way betters the community at large and the scout themselves. This project alone takes hundreds and hundreds of hours between planning everything out, and making this small dream of yours become a reality and seeing it through to the end.

Keep in mind, this is a test of leadership, ability to problem solve, and preparing the scout for the real world, so all of this is done and led by the scouts themselves. This is a test of not only all of that, but whether or not this is all worth it to the scout in question, whether or not they are willing to give it all that they have in order to achieve this most prestigious honor.

And what an honor it is. Last summer I worked on and completed my own Eagle Project, and just this past week, on May 1, 2016 my Court of Honor was held and I myself was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. Let me be the first to tell you that yes, it really was worth it.

Growing up with two older brothers involved in scouting, I knew from a very young age that someday I would get my Eagle and I would be proud of it. Even though I technically achieved my rank the day all the paperwork was finalized last September, it never really sank in until right now that yes, I really am an Eagle Scout.

I did that work, I sacrificed my time, and the time of those around me for the purpose that I could get to the point where I was determined to be. I had a goal in mind and I would be damned if I let myself fall behind and not get to where I wanted to be. During the ceremony, after all the awards and after all the formalities were taken care of, everyone in the audience stood up and applauded me.

That’s when it hit me. All of these people were in this room for me and me alone, they had all come out because they were proud that I was among that 4 percent to get this far in scouting. They were here because they had all stood right by my side since I was in second grade and pushed me, guided me, helped me, and most importantly, taught me to be the person I am today.

It was then that I realized that all my work, and all of my time stressing over deadlines and paperwork and merit badges and hours of community service, and everything that I had done in the past 11 years of my life had been leading to this very moment. So if you have a goal in mind, and you’re willing to work at it, no matter how much it takes, please believe me when I say it will all be worth it in the end.

It all comes down to one thing in the end. Y’agottawanna.