Scouting in my heart..

Note: Slightly emo post, especially to all my Scouts friends. Don't read if your purpose is to suan me. Thank you.

I just came back from a camp yesterday.

Fresh from my 24th birthday, it is freaking ironic that every event, incident or encounter is like an epiphany or revelation to me. This camp is no exception.

For one, I know that being with Mother Nature is extremely calming to me.

I think I am quite good at being appreciative at what the God has created for us, in the sense that I can gaze at a good blue sky for quite a time. Just taking my time, admiring the clouds. Taking it all in, the brilliant colors and every wonderful stroke of genius.


The greenery is soothing, the blues are calming, the whites are the purest.

Nature's at its best.

Next time if I am too stressed up at work, maybe I should just head to the garden and stare at some plants for half an hour or so. LOL.


Secondly, in truth I have always been in a love-hate relationship with Scouts, despite being in this association for the past 10 years or so. Being a Scout had definitely gave me one of the most memorable times in my secondary school life, of which I am truly thankful and grateful for.

I am not sure whether it had changed me character-wise, because I have always been quite a perfectionist when it comes to fulfilling expectations; so even if I were not a Scout, I presume I would still be a disciplined and a hard worker.

But Scouts definitely gave me the best moments ever. I don't think any other clubs/associations can quite give me the same experience or develop me in that sense more than Scouts.

But after finishing secondary school, here's where the challenges start. You start leading the young ones, just like how all our leaders came back to serve the troop. I do what I needed to do to stay in Scouts, but not before long, I felt overburdened.

There was too much organizational work to do. Planning the activities, following up their progress, chasing them to work harder - it was no more those fun running around games or playing in the rain or having stupid jokes about each other.

Stress-free. Laughter. Follow the leader. Play games. NO MORE.

It was the adult world now.

And honestly, I felt very burdened. I had a life to keep, a work to go to and yet during my weekends, I still had to do this "volunteer work" that I need to keep myself active in. It was tiring - it took up a lot of my Saturdays when I can be lazing around or do some shopping after a week of hard work.

But what this camp has revealed to me: is that leading your juniors and seeing them grow, is really quite priceless.

I am not in any sense motherly at all. In fact, I find that the best way to keep kids/youngsters quiet is scream at them until your lungs pop out and then show them your best Beast face.

These kids really can cause my blood pressure to heighten in a matter of 5 seconds or so. It doesn't help that most come from good families, which ultimately caused them to be pampered with a maid, PSP, Xbox, mp3 players, high tech phones and some serious spoiled brat attitude.

Some of the kids are truly annoying and distracting, freaky sometimes. Their endless silly questions can drive you nuts. Seeing how they do their things can make you boil.

Luckily though, some of these kids truly can pack some inspirations.

Seeing how certain circumstances are very tormenting and yet they (try to) lived to it, is really quite inspiring.

They have comfy beds at home, McD instead of food cooked by people who might not know how to cook, living with mud and with other smelly 8 members - I mean, come on - why do you need to put up with all these?

Living conditions are already so tough and even hygiene is compromised, plus demanding leaders who seemed to enjoy giving out punishments - I don't know. I think if I were them right now, I'd probably feel like hating the world. Earth. Universe.

When I see the juniors trying to enjoy themselves despite the adversity, I felt a pang of justification.That all my work was worth it. That all my Saturday afternoons spent on them had a purpose.

Now, they can have the moments I had when I was their age. Hopefully. :-)