Michael Noronha - Eagle Scout
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Michael Noronha - Eagle Scout
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Michael is the Troop's 10th Eagle Scout and earned his rank on May 27th, 2009. His Eagle project was the building a retaining wall and perennials garden for a support home run by My Friend’s Place in Dover. He graduated from Oyster River HS in the spring of 2009 and held his Eagle CoH just 2 weeks before reporting to West Point. Michael hopes to graduate near the top of his West Point class in 2013 with a B.S. in American Politics.
To me, becoming an Eagle Scout was a milestone in a development process that began when I joined scouting in the 3rd grade. My 10 years in scouting taught me more than I yet realize, and prepared me well for where I am today. Merit Badge work and my Eagle Project did much to improve my work ethic and organization, and I attribute these to much of my future academic success. During Basic Training, it was always obvious who the Eagle Scouts were—they finished every orienteering course hours ahead of the pack, knew first aid like the back of their hands, got the highest scores on the rifle ranges, and of course they stayed the driest while camping in the rain. Scouting is recognized as being so relevant to what I do today at West Point that 1 in 6 of my classmates is an Eagle Scout and 1 in 2 of my classmates is a former boy scout. But I am not surrounded by scouts because we can tie knots, read maps, and pitch tents—after all, those are just skills that can be learned in a few months of military training. I am surrounded by scouts because scouts are leaders of character. Scouts are trustworthy, kind, obedient, and brave. Scouts are the ones who lead by example and do the things that no one else is willing to do. Scouts know what it takes to motivate a group, and how to adapt when nothing goes according to the plan. Scouts are prepared, set goals, and take the time to reflect on how they can improve in what they do and who they are. I could go on, but you get the picture—scouting prepares you for a lifetime of leadership and service regardless of where life takes you.