For Grant, Scouting is about more than personal achievement—it’s about passing the torch. The same experiences and mentors that shaped his journey inspired him to guide the next generation of leaders.
Leading The Way: Passing The Torch
Scouting has shaped who I am. It’s more than just campouts and merit badges—it’s about developing as a leader, learning resilience, discovering the power of service, and preparing to be a better citizen in our global community. I believe in Scouting because it gives youth a place to belong, to grow, and to become the best versions of themselves. It challenges them to step outside their comfort zones while surrounding them with a community that lifts them up.
I know this because I’ve lived it. I started as a Tiger Scout, eager and wide-eyed, just excited to learn new skills alongside my friends and my dad. Some of my fondest childhood memories come from Cub Scout camps and meetings—earning belt loops, racing Pinewood Derby cars, and proudly receiving my Arrow of Light. From the beginning, I tried to live by the Cub Scout motto: “Do Your Best.” And by the time I crossed over into a troop, I felt ready for new adventures.
The troop level brought more freedom and responsibility. I was no longer tagging along with my dad—I was learning how to cook for my patrol, clean my own campsite, and take ownership of my experience. It took a while before I got serious about rank advancement. I didn’t earn the Scout rank until nearly a year in, and once middle school started, I got caught up in other activities. I stalled at Tenderfoot and Second Class for several years.
Everything changed in 2019, when I turned fourteen and went on my first Philmont trek. A 12-day backpacking journey through the rugged backcountry of New Mexico, Philmont was easily one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—but it lit a fire in me. I was still a Second Class Scout on that trek, but something clicked. The views, the teamwork, the grit it took—it all made me want more. By the time I returned home, I had earned First Class, and I was determined to keep moving forward.
Finding My Voice Through Leadership
In December 2020, I attended NYLT for the first time. After a long year of pandemic isolation, this course felt like a spark of hope. Before NYLT, I was hesitant to step into leadership roles. But something about that week—being surrounded by motivated youth, learning real leadership skills, and realizing I had something to contribute—transformed me.
It gave me the confidence and drive to lead. I returned to my troop, earned Life rank, became a Troop Guide and ASPL, and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. NYLT helped me find my voice, and it opened doors I never imagined walking through.
Not long after, I signed up for NAYLE at Philmont. Returning to the high adventure base—but now as a more capable leader—was life-changing. NAYLE challenged me in new ways, but it also affirmed that I had grown. I got to test my skills in meaningful scenarios, build deep friendships with other scouts across the country, and learn what it meant to lead with character and purpose.
NAYLE also gave me the confidence to complete one of the most important projects of my life: my Eagle Scout service project. I partnered with Baylor Scott & White’s Patient Resource Center in Dallas to create over 200 care kits for cancer patients. Each kit included beanies, gloves, toiletries, masks, blankets, and handwritten letters of encouragement. The kits were embroidered with a fleur-de-lis and distributed to patients undergoing treatment, many at the same hospital where my grandmother, Elizabeth Cantrill (Mimi), received care before passing away from breast cancer in 2018.
The project was deeply personal, honoring her legacy while allowing me to lead a team of over 150 volunteers and raise nearly $2,000. I earned my Eagle Scout rank the day after my 17th birthday — but I knew I was far from finished.
From Participant to Mentor
The summer after earning Eagle, I returned to both NYLT and NAYLE—this time as a staffer. Serving as a Troop Guide and Crew Guide was one of the most meaningful parts of my journey. I had the chance to walk alongside other youth, just as someone once did for me, and guide them through the same transformational experience I had. I learned more about servant leadership that week than I ever expected, and I came away more inspired than ever to keep giving back.
The next summer, I returned again—this time in senior staff positions. I was now mentoring troop and crew guides, giving course-wide presentations, and helping shape the entire experience. I was nervous—was I really ready for this? I had only staffed each course once before. But I stepped up, and I grew through it. I was pushed to lead on a higher level, and I saw firsthand how much it mattered. My work caught the attention of Mr. Bristow, a Course Director I had only staffed once with, and to my complete surprise, he invited me to serve as Youth Course Leader for an upcoming NYLT session. I was honored—and terrified.
Over the next 18 months, I poured myself into building that course. I selected staff, developed the theme, led training weekends, and collaborated with adult and senior staff to bring our vision to life. When December 2024 arrived, Session 5 took place—and it was everything I’d hoped for. Watching that course come to life, seeing the growth in our participants, and getting to share that journey with a team I believed in was one of the proudest moments of my life. Mr. Bristow believed in me before I believed in myself, and thanks to his mentorship, I became the kind of leader I once looked up to.
But the story didn’t stop there. In June, I returned again—this time as a mentor for a new YCL. It was incredible to watch a course come together from a new perspective, especially seeing many of my former staff members now stepping into new roles and thriving. Then, unexpectedly, I was asked to help on Mr. Bristow’s second course that summer. I served in a behind-the-scenes adult role—handling store runs, paperwork, laundry, shower supervision, and photography. While it was less visible, it was just as fulfilling. I watched yet another generation of staff lead with excellence and saw firsthand how the seeds planted in my own YCL course had continued to grow.
Over the last eight months, I’ve watched my participants and staff rise to new challenges—some returning to staff, others stepping into leadership positions in their troops or schools. That’s been the most rewarding part: knowing I played a small part in helping them grow. That’s what Scouting is about—passing the torch, creating opportunities, and believing in each other.
A Legacy That Lasts
I don’t know exactly what the rest of my youth journey in Scouting will look like. But I know I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve experienced so far. I’ve already started carrying these lessons into the real world—at college, I serve as president of a service organization, vice president of my fraternity, and as a facilitator for my school’s first-year camp. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be the leader I am today without Scouting. I wear my Eagle Scout ring on my index finger every day—not just as a symbol of achievement, but as a reminder of the values, memories, and legacy that shape my path forward, and will always point me in the right direction.
Scouting works. Scouting matters. And Scouting lasts a lifetime. That’s why I’ll continue to choose Scouting—forever.
