Boy Scouts of America is a popular organization that many kids join in elementary school. Some do it for only a year or two while others stick with it longer and climb the ranks, but very few ever achieve the highest level of Eagle Scout.

Seniors Josh Varuso, Ethan Jennings, and Joe Williams are among the roughly 6.5% of eligible scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout means that you have shown commitment, and just getting there took me five years,” said Varuso.

Jennings has been working most of his life to achieve this goal.

“I was in Boy Scouts of America for 12 or 13 years before I became an Eagle Scout, which is most of my life,” he said.

One reason that becoming an Eagle Scout takes such a long time is that it’s a long process.

“Each of the seven ranks allows a scout to practice skills necessary for a camp out or other activities according to their age group,” Williams explained. “Once all requirements are completed, a scout goes to a scoutmaster or older scout that has a high position in the troop to go over all requirements to ensure that they have been met.”

According to the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scouts should be able to perform in any situation where they may be called upon to take action. This also requires them to have the composure at all times.

“I know how to do CPR, but will I actually be strong enough to do it when I really have to? Is there courage in me? It’s more like being prepared to do things in the future. There are only four or five moments when you are a hero, and will you be able to do what’s right,” Williams explained.

“I don’t necessarily see it as a lifestyle, but I try to live my everyday life by the principles they have,” Jennings said.

With the honor also comes a lot of responsibility.

“When we go to big camps, the camps will have rules, but at our personal camp we have more leadership and it’s not like we are making sure we do things, but making sure other people do things because we have already learned everything,” Williams said.

Varuso agreed. “On trips, Eagle Scouts are expected to help the younger scouts and teach them helpful skills,”  he said.

Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is not an easy task. If you are interested in learning more, visit the Boy Scouts of America website.