Ismael De Los Santos – Cornell University

Accepted to: Cornell University (College of Engineering), University of Illinois, Purdue University and Villanova University

Essay Question: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

A crucial part of my personal development has been molded by the unique experiences I had as a scout.  My appreciation and love of nature is largely attributed to my last 11 years as a Boy Scout.  That coupled with living in Connecticut, with its towering trees and countless winding streams that form a delicate scenery not abundant in many places.  Love of nature is however only one of the many things I can thank Boy Scouts for.    

What was always so unique about the Boy Scout program was their approach. The Boy Scout program gives boys a sense of independence and responsibility that is rarely instilled in children that age. As a young scout of 6, I knew the importance of keeping my uniform tidy and clean. What could have been perceived as just a tan uniform by others meant much more to us.   It was an honor to be a scout, each badge and pin on our uniform a symbolism for perseverance, hard work and determination.    At precisely 7:30 every Thursday night, boys went from the guidance of their parents to the guidance of their peers.  Although it was always clear what was expected from us, they never held our hands.  We were always given enough freedom to promote personal development, leadership, and accountability.

Junior year I was elected to the position of Assistant Patrol Leader, second to the Senior Patrol Leader. In serving this role, I was required to step in for the Senior Patrol Leader in his absence. My first opportunity to serve as the Patrol Leader was during a brisk camping trip towards the end of October. The days had become shorter and the darkness had already blanketed the area by the time of our arrival. I hopped out of my car and gathered around the rest of my troop, about 20 for this trip. The goal of the first night was to move all our gear from the parking lot to our campsite a half mile away. My Scoutmaster walked over to me and asked “So how do you plan on going about this?” My reply was “I’m not sure yet.” My Scoutmaster did not seem troubled by my answer and nonchalantly replied, “Well I don’t know either; get it done” and walked off to meet with other leaders for the next couple of hours. 

I met with some of the other senior boys and came up with a plan.  The strategy was to leave half the group at the campsite to set up and have the other group transport the gear from the cars. The plan was structurally sound but the execution wasn’t as great. By the end of the night, the tents were all set up but there was still some gear strewn across the campsite. I walked over to my Scoutmaster to report what I perceived as an apparent failure, but he replied by saying “Good Job. There were some issues but great work getting the younger boys to bed on time.” While the small mess scattered across the campsite would need to be addressed in the morning, I was proud to have not only come up with a plan to accomplish the goal but also proving to the troop that they could count on me.   I slept very soundly that night.  

The Boy Scout Program instilled in me much more than a love of nature.  By asserting independence, responsibility, honesty, courage they were invaluable in molding the person I am today. I was always held to high moral standards and expected to always honor the Boy Scout code through my actions.  The Boy Scout program believed in me, which helped me to believe in myself.   I learned that I could only get as far as the effort I gave, and that life lesson is one that I’ll continue to apply in all endeavors.