by Paul Smith, Eagle Scout, Troop 295
My name is Paul Smith, and I became an Eagle Scout in Troop 295, Mechanicsburg, PA on March 18, 2014. I am the oldest son of five boys, and have tried my very best to set a great example for my brothers to follow.
In order to achieve the rank of Eagle, I earned a total of 41 merit badges--including the 21 required for Eagle--and served my troop in a variety of leadership roles, including Troop Historian, Senior Patrol Leader, and, currently, Troop Instructor. I also developed, planned and provided leadership for an Eagle Scout project to benefit the Tuscarora State Forest, which included clearing nearly seven miles of hiking trails, blazing those trails, and placing seven trailhead signs to mark the trails. This project required a total of 187 man-hours to complete.
I love to be outdoors in nature, and especially enjoy hiking and backpacking. I am a member of the JROTC program at Cumberland Valley High School, and have played the Alto Saxophone in the concert band for five years. I began employment at the age of fourteen at Philadelphia Steak & Hoagie, and attended Philmont, Boy Scouts of America, a premier high adventure base in June 2013.
I plan to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after high school graduation, and have also set a goal to enroll in the ROTC program at college and join the Marines after graduating from college.