This I Believe - I Believe in the Scout Law

This I Believe

From the website: "This I Believe is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Some 100,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here on our website, heard on public radio, chronicled through our books, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow"

For a class at school, we were assigned to write a belief statement on any topic of our choice. This is the first one that I've ever done, but thought I'd share.

I Believe in the Scout Law 

As a girl with no previous scouting experience, adjusting to living and working at a camp for the Boy Scouts of America as part of the staff was difficult at first. It's a culture that only those who have been a part of it can fully understand. There are many songs, skits, and traditions that seem silly and maybe even embarrassing at first. It's not for everyone. But eventually, if you stick with it, you can't imagine life without them and you find yourself using them on a regular basis, even on the off-season.

But there is one aspect of working at scout camp that I think is absolutely applicable to every person. The only real rule at camp is that you follow the scout law at all times. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. When everyone in camp is striving to follow the scout law, everything runs smoothly. We are all friends and we are always helping each other out. All the work gets done, and the campers are happy.

I like to imagine a world where all people follow the principles laid out in the scout law. Can you imagine what it would be like if all leaders and politicians were trustworthy, all friends were loyal, and every person was helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind to one another? What if everyone was cheerful, clean, and reverent? Brave enough to stand up for themselves, others, and for what they believed in? This is what I think a perfect world would look like.

The world is not perfect. And neither are we. But each of us, as individuals, can make the choice to be the best people that we can possibly be. We have the agency to decide how we want to live. I, for one, choose to exemplify a lifestyle that follows the values taught in the scout law. I hope that it makes a difference in the lives of those around me. But even if it doesn't, I know it will make a positive difference in my own life. If more people chose to try to live the scout law, I think it would be contagious. The world would be a happier place. This I believe.