Boy Scouts

I was always involved in scouting.  Both cub scouts and Boy Scouts.  In fifth grade, about the time one transfers from cub scouts into boy scouts is the year that I lost the use of my left hand.  some accommodations had to be made in order for me to be able to climb the ranks. 

 

Tenderfoot

For the tenderfoot rank (the first rank in scouting), one of the requirements is to demonstrate a push up and a situp as well as a chin-up.  Requirements like that were the ones that I had to have modified, or waved. 

 

Second class

Second class( the second rank in scouting) was pretty simple, there were no physical fitness requirements. 

 

First class

First class (the third rank in scouting also had physical requirements (a swimming test, and a running test requirement) both of these had to be waived.

 

Star

Star tank (the fourth rank in scouting)  took a lot longer than I anticipated, because it was this rank that merit badged were a requirement.  I already had a plan of what merit badges I wanted to take.  Most of them were easy ones that did not require use of both hands.  Badges like:reading, music, computer science, and astronomy were badges that I earned the easiest. 
Merit badges could have specific requirements waved as well by the discretion of the merit badge counselor.  In specific, I remember having most of the requirements for the badge 'Personal fitness' waived.  Most of the requirements were physical exercises that I could not complete with only one working hand. 
Fortunately, for Eagle scout, there are merit badges that are one of two or three badges.  One specific case that I can recall is in the case of 'cycling, or hiking, or swimming.  With my condition, I obviously couldn't swim. And cycling was difficult. So, I opted to take the hiking merit badge.  One of the requirements is to take five ten mile hikes.  and another is to take one twenty mile hike.  My counselor was able to waive the twenty mile hike.  All I had to do was to go on the five ten mile hikes, whick I was able to complete relatively easily. 
Another instance of alternative badges was in the case of emergency preparedness, and Lifesaving.  several of the requirements for the lifesaving merit badge is to demonstrate how to save someone from drowning.  I of course not able to swim, could not do this requirement.

 

Life

All that was required in the way of merit badges for the rank of Life was a total of five more, with three of those coming from the list of required merit badges.  for reference, the list of merit badges required for Eagle is:

1. First Aid
2. Citizenship in the Community
3. Citizenship in the Nation
4. Citizenship in the World
5. Communication
6. Personal Fitness
7. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
8. Environmental Science
9. Personal Management
10. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
11. Camping
12. Family Life

 Most of them were relatively simple only asking for reports and research. 

 

Eagle

By far Eagle Scout was the most difficult rank to attain.  it required ten more merit badges for a total of twenty-one.  And a service project that I had to plan, delegate and implement all by myself.  I decided to build some benches around the school for parents to sit on while they were waiting for school to dismiss. 

 

Ad alteri dei

During my whole career as a scout (cub scouts and boy scouts), I received three medals for religious studies.  The first was 'Light of Christ.'  Followed by 'Parvuli Dei.' (Children of God)  Finally, 'Ad altari Dei.' (To the altar of God)   

During my high school years, I also was admitted into the Order of the Arrow, which is National Honor Society for the Boy Scouts.  While I never did make it to the highest level of Order of the Arrow, I did make it pretty far. To the rank of  Brotherhood.

Brotherhood 

Which is the second of three ranks in the Order of the Arrow.  For admission into the order of the Arrow, one must complete an ordeal.  Mine was manual labor on scant food.  The overseers were kind enough to give me the light work, cleaning etc.