Spencer Ato’s Eagle project stands tall after being completed recently. (Post Photo by Spencer Ato)
For as long as I can remember, I have been in the scouting program.
Joining scouts was admittedly a very last-minute decision I made before starting first grade because I really wanted to try and do more things outdoors, other than baseball.
So, I signed up.
To me, scouting was something that encouraged and taught me to be uncomfortable.
We didn’t just go camping by the lake when we went “camping”.
We went on 15-mile backpacking trips through the Appalachian Mountains, we went kayaking in the Outer Banks, or my personal favorite, scuba diving in the Florida Keys.
Despite all the crazy trips and events we went on, the one thing that has been consistent through these 11 years has been the end goal—the rank of Eagle Scout.
With the way you reach the rank of Eagle Scout being through an “Eagle project” that the scout plans and leads the construction of.
As I began to near the planning phase of my project, I knew that I wanted my project to be something that I truly believed in, rather than just a bench or table.
And something that I have always believed in was the importance of education.
Specifically, educating one’s self through the books they read.
So, I came up with the idea to build a “free little library” where someone can leave a book or take a book.
I envision this library standing there for decades with residents passing through every day.
I got into contact with one of the leaders in my troop who works with retirement communities in the area, and contacted Glenaire, a retirement community close to where I lived in North Carolina.
After sending in my proposal and working out some details, my project was confirmed, and I could begin planning and eventually the construction.
Going into the project, I knew that there would be problems that I would encounter.
What I did not expect is just how many.
Not long after we began work on the project, we ran into our first issue.
The trim that was intended to hold the walls of the library together was too thin and would split in an instant.
I had a feeling something like this would happen once or twice, so I bought extra, but it was splitting nearly every piece of trim. It got to the point where we were using almost every piece of extra trim we had.
But the way we moved forward was by changing how we approached attaching the trim itself.
So instead of just drilling, we would countersink the pilot holes in the wood, so there was as little resistance as there could be for the screw.
We couldn’t get rid of the problem itself, so we found the best solution was to just give the problem a big enough space to where it wasn’t a visible issue.
But regardless, the team I led pushed through and the library was completed after working for over six hours.
The day that 11 years of my life had been building towards was done and finished with.
While the work didn’t go by fast in the moment, once it was done, it felt strange.
Other than submitting my report and finishing two more merit badges, I am done.
Just like that.
It was this overwhelming, strange emotion of an emptiness that is wanted, yet needs to be filled. While the work for my Eagle rank isn’t over, it is beginning to feel that way.
And I have begun to think about how I’m going to use it.
I still want to be involved in my troop either online, or in person, if I ever move back to North Carolina.
Honestly, however, I believe being an Eagle Scout becomes more of a personal trait, rather than a rank or label.
It’s a system of honor that I intend to carry with me everywhere forever.
But for now, I’ll work on finishing those merit badges.
Spencer Ato is an intern with the Bedford County Post. He is currently a senior at Cascade High School.
