John Thompson: How an Eagle Scout is Made

Established in 1910, Scouting America (the new name for Boy Scouts of America as of this year) is a prominent part of local, national, and international landscapes across the planet. The designation of Eagle Scout is the highest level a Scout can attain. 

While the numbers vary from one source to another, only 4-5 percent of over 1 million Scouts claim the title of “Eagle.” Among those are astronaut Neil Armstrong and President Gerald Ford. 

The Scouts’ overall motto of “Be prepared” is supported by the instruction to “Do a good turn daily, and do your best to carry out your duty to God and country.” 

Scouts such as John Thompson, who entered the program in the second grade, grow up in an environment of excellence and respect. They stand out from the general population of 16- to 18-year-olds. They are focused, confident leaders, and well-spoken. They live comfortably and
                         productively in the present and anticipate the future with confident anticipation.

“My uncle’s kids were in Scouts,” John said. “They talked about their projects, the things they did on their camping trips, and it all sounded great to me. It also encouraged me to join.

“Over the years, I’ve discovered one of the aspects of scouting that I value the most is learning the true meaning of leadership. I dreamed of becoming a Head Scout. 

We all work together and plan together what we want to do as projects and activities, where we want to do it, and all the details. I absolutely love every bit of it.”

               John views everything he does now as part of the foundation for what he does in the future, including the knowledge that college boards and administrators are greatly impressed when they see Eagle Scout on an application.

“When I’m older, I want to feel I did the best I could in the life that I lived,” John said. “Everyone has something to contribute, but we make the best contributions after we identify our personal strengths.

“I’m a good-listener people person. I love seeing and being with people, and everything is even better if I recognize a way to help them.”

John’s father, Paul, defines this part of his son by saying he has an “internal empathy.” What a wonderful attribute!

The final challenge in becoming an Eagle Scout is to select, plan, and implement a project of lasting value to the Scout’s community.

“I’ve lived in Flower Mound 10 years, and it’s been so good to me and my entire family. I wanted to think about it carefully and come up with something that really gave back.”

One of the more unique attractions of Flower Mound is its system of interconnected hiking/equestrian trails holding together the various parts of the city. A friend of John’s family expressed her frustration over having her jogging route shortened because of a tenth of a mile stretch of overgrown, impassable trail at Chimney Rock, cutting them off from the rest of the neighborhoods.

John had his project. He would renovate that portion of the trail and reconnect the city he loved. 

John, as the leader, supported by fellow Scouts and volunteers, successfully reconnected Chimney Rock on March 28 and 29. The clean, fresh trail is reopened with a focus to accommodate horses, while also being perfect for joggers and leisurely strollers. Debris is gone, and overgrown vegetation is removed. No longer must anyone stop and turn back.

“I don’t expect the project to end here,” John said. “It’s become very personal for me, allowing me to exercise the leadership skills I’ve developed over the years while also meeting new people.

“I hope the trail has continuing importance and influence by encouraging Flower Mound to spend more money and offer more attention and protection to the entire trail project. The system was put in decades ago. It was considered important then, and it is still important. It connects the people of Flower Mound physically, which increases the sense of a unified community.”

See? These Scouts, especially the ones who answer the call and the challenges to climb the ladder to the height of Eagle, stand out from the rest of the teenage population.