Today, John wrapped up his last two merit badges – Communication and Citizenship in the Community.
Tomorrow, he will finish his Statement of Ambitions and then have his Scoutmaster conference. On Thursday, he will submit his paperwork to Great Rivers Council for the rank of Eagle. All that will be left then is his Board of Review. The finish line is in site, and I am so damn proud of this kid.
For Laura, it was obvious that she was going to be an Eagle Scout, but for John, it was very different. He never wanted it. At some point after he earned the rank of Life, his thought process began to change. However, focus was always a problem and staying on task was a huge struggle. Recently, we learned that John has ADHD, which explains a lot about his behaviors and who he is. Focus is NOT his friend. So, to be able to finish this marathon is a testament to him because it takes focus, task orientation, and a lot of work. Yes, many wonderful people helped him along the way, and Andy and I pushed him and reminded him of tasks over and over again. But, in the end, it is up to the Scout, and here he is literally two days away from submitting his paperwork.
I cannot wait to hug this kid when he earns that rank because what we did not know when his scouting journey started at the age of six is that the deck was actually stacked against him. You are almost there, Bud. Your marathon is nearly complete. I cannot wait to watch you cross that finish line.