Personal Narrative: The Boy Scouts

I do not think I will ever be able to recreate the experience of sitting on top of Mount Baldy, at 12,441 feet, next to a warm fire, the world completely silent except for the crackling of sparks and the wind with a soft howl as it passes through mountains, or hiking through a luscious green meadow with grass all the way up to your shoulders, with the feeling that you have been engulfed by the world. Deciding to join the Boy Scouts has probably been one of the best decisions of my life. Besides teaching me new skills, it has also given me new experiences like going to summer camps in the mountains, scuba diving in the gulf of Mexico, backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, and much more. In the Boy Scouts there is an experience like no other, it is the Mecca of Boy Scouts, Philmont Scout Ranch. Located in Cimarron, New Mexico, it is the largest high adventure base, spanning a little over 137,000 acres. At Philmont, you bring a backpack and fit as much as you can
One of the members of the group is the leader, they will make all the decisions and represent the group. Philmont chose a member of our group to lead but after three days the group knew he was unqualified to lead, so I was appointed. This new position scared me at first because I was commanding a group which way we would hike and keep control of the pace. This was nerve wracking because if something bad happened, I knew it was my fault. But after a couple of days and few mistakes, I felt in control of not only the group, but of myself. I was more confident in my decisions and the group knew that they could rely on me to keep us on track. This position of leadership has changed my life dramatically. I am no longer hesitant on my decisions, I think about my options and make the most logical choice with confidence. Being in charge does not scare me anymore, but makes me feel