Senior Brett Baker has dedicated countless hours in pursuit of one of the most respected achievements for teens in America, and just a few months ago he successfully completed his quest to become an Eagle Scout. 

Becoming an Eagle Scout requires years of dedication to perfect numerous skills and complete multiple requirements. Baker was able to finish these requirements and is proud of his efforts. 

His journey to becoming an Eagle Scout started in an odd place, but ended with a great result. 

Baker’s initial interest in becoming a Scout arose early in his days of attending the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

“I heard a kid in the bathroom say he got to shoot a BB gun in Cub Scouts,” Baker said. “I heard that and was like, awesome. I joined Cub Scouts and stuck through it until I became an Eagle Scout.” 

While weaponry sparked his interest into joining Scouts, Baker has learned countless life skills and lessons along the way. These lessons were quite tedious and required much mental toughness. 

“The hardest part of becoming an Eagle Scout is the paperwork, it is annoying and requires getting things like signatures from many people,” Baker said. “I had to get a signature from the director of operations at the Emory Catholic Center.”

The final step in the process of becoming an Eagle Scout is the Eagle project, a large-scale activity or job that requires much time and effort to complete. 

Baker’s Eagle project included renovating and reconstructing part of the facilities at the Emory Catholic Center.

“The work shed at the Emory Catholic Center had been rundown and infested with rats and rotten wood, so I created a wood flooring, and installed a pre-constructed shed,” Baker said. “It increases space almost four fold. Covid caused a delay in the plans but the entire process took about a year.” 

Baker’s completion of this project was the final step of his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout. 

Baker appreciates everything that being a Scout has done for him, as it “opens doors and other opportunities” for him.