This week we met up with Jackson G. (’21), who was recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout for Boys Scouts of America.
Jackson, a member of the ISKL Boy Scout Troop 818, organized and led a group of young men and leaders to build a safe, secure cooking area at a local Somalian refugee center in Kuala Lumpur.
Apart from his Scout duties, Jackson has also been part of the Choir program and ISKL Singers group, and is involved in Volleyball, Rugby, and Track and Field Junior Varsity and Varsity teams.
Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in the USA, Jackson and his family have lived in Newfoundland, Houston, and Dubai, before coming to Malaysia in 2017.
Here is his story.
Boy Scout
“I’ve been a (Boy) Scout for 13 years in both the US and Canadian versions of Scouts – and it’s been something that’s shaped my life!
‘The Eagle Scout Rank is the highest rank that can be achieved in the Boy Scouts. Six other ranks have to be accomplished first, and with each different rank, specific requirements are to be completed. Some of these are first aid skills, completing service hours, learning to use outdoor tools, tie knots, or acquiring life skills.
‘Another part is to fulfill a certain amount of merit badges, which are more focused on specific topics, such as handling money, staying physically fit, having healthy family relationships, learning what it means to be a citizen, and first aid skills. You then have to organize, fundraise, and lead a service project for your community.
‘My community project involved helping a local Somali refugee center in Kuala Lumpur by building a roof for an uncovered outdoor area that they could not use and then furnish the place with tables and shelves. They wanted to use the space to conduct cooking lessons and prepare food to create income for the center.
‘The entire project took 107 hours to complete. It took nine hours to install the roof and furniture alone.
‘What I love about Scouts is that the values it teaches are so important. Scouts are all about giving back to the community, being a leader, and taking care of the environment. Scouting has also taught me a lot about life and how to live the best life you can. If anyone were interested in becoming a Scout, I would say sign up; it’s a great program! No matter how old you are, there’s a lot to take away and learn from it.
‘I love how ISKL does an excellent job of providing a space where students like me can try just about anything they want to, with the sports and clubs available. And if what you want isn’t there, you can make a new club that does what you want to do.”
‘What I’d like to do in the future is to help protect the environment. Nature is fundamental to me, and I think it’s vital to maintain and protect the different ecosystems in our world and the flora and fauna. All of the fantastic creatures and places are what makes our planet so unique, and I want my kids to be able to see the beautiful sights of the world like I’ve been able to.”
What does Be All You Are” mean to you?
“To me, “Be All You Are” just means to take risks and put yourself out there and try new things. To push yourself to do something you didn’t think you could.
To read more inspiring stories of our students, take a look at Alex’s multifaceted interests or Wen Li’s athletic achievements here!
