Socialization In the Woods.

As an Eagle Scout I often identify with a national organization known as the Boy Scouts of America. This organization acts as a social institution by recruiting young men from the age of 5 and shaping them into model citizens until the age of 18. I was one of the few that went through this whole process to eventually achieve the highest attainable rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout rank is recognized all across an impressive achievement because of the way Eagle Scouts are socialized. The Boy Scouts of America socializes young men at the very begging of the process by introducing the uniform which is requires at each weekly meaning until the scout either quits the Boy Scouts or reaches Eagle. The Boy Scouts also maintain pledges, oaths, and laws within the organization that are required to be followed to avoid minor punishment. Along with these standards the institution also requires that each member earn merit badges which are comprised of complicated tasks related to everyday life. While performing all of these duties and tasks, the scout is required to a board of review to advance in rank which is essentially a meeting with a bunch of adult leaders who evaluate your performance. At the end of all this the scout must perform one final task of leading a large service project to better the community.

               The Boy Scouts of America socialize its youth to be model citizens in the eyes of its leaders through this process. Every piece of this process is shaping you for society since the begging of the program, for example the uniforms. The uniforms create a sense of representation and belonging to a group much like once a person joins society as an adult they often peruse some sort of position which requires them to wear a uniform whether it be a suit to work, a hat at McDonalds, or a uniform in the military. The merit badges also socialize the scouts into learning important skills for fitting into society, scouts have to learn about personal finance, communication, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, citizenship in the community, and family life. All of which teach you to behave how society deems fit. The scouts also are shaped by their law which is stated at the begging of each meaning, it’s quite obvious to see that the laws are meant to socialize the scouts by stating “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent”. The final objective of the whole process, the service project, is the culmination of all of these parts by which the scout is tested as an adult. This is to shape the scout into not only a functioning member of society but an example for all others to follow. In the end of it all the BSA turns an ordinary child at their most impressionable age and shapes them through a series of fun but often objective tasks that mold them into what society sees as a perfect citizen, outlined by Scout Law.

            Today this socialization has actually helped me significantly. I used the skills of personal management and developing life goals in high school to take me from an average student to an excelling student that allowed me to earn admittance to Michigan Tech on scholarship. The socialization from BSA also provided me with the skills needed to get and maintain a good job, in combination with the leadership skills developed I was able to earn the trust of my bosses and advance through the ranks. Even just the title of Eagle Scout has provided me connections to other Eagle Scouts in this “elite group” which is actually rather impressive according to social standards. The socialization provided by the BSA has yet hurt me, sometimes I do wonder though what I would have become if my life choices weren’t guided by the morals and teachings of the BSA. Would I be happier? Would I be a hooligan? Would I just be a lazy bum? Or would I still be here?