Personal Growth

The Joy Of Failure

So, you're sitting in the Scoutmaster's lounge at summer camp drinking a cup of coffee and trying not to worry about the crop of first year campers you've got spread out throughout camp. As you sit there wondering whether Jimmy made it to First Class Emphasis, or if Tim will ever learn to swim well enough to pass First Class you overhear a couple Scouters from another troop. You're not eavesdropping, it's just one of those Scouter conversations you can't help overhear.

Without looking at the two Scouters you're a bit confused as one Scouter excitedly tells his companion about how one of their Scouts failed his swim test. Something doesn't seem right to you as you definitely detect a hint of joy in the Scouter's voice. Curiosities, of course, gets the better of you so you get up and go for another cup of coffee - just so you can see if he has a smile on his face.

You're nearly horrified when you see the man sitting there having his conversation, and wearing the biggest smile you've ever seen in your life. Now you've got to find out what it is about a Scout failing a swim test that could put such a big smile on his face. So, you go back to your seat and try not to look too obvious as you continue to listen to the conversation.

What could it possibly be? Well, it should be pretty obvious from the title up there at the top of the page what I'm talking about. Yes, the thing that has this Scouter smiling is personal growth. Not his, but the Scout who failed the swim test. I've been that guy and I'm here to tell you why he's smiling.

The Look Of "I Got It!"

Most of us have had the pleasure of taking a group of Scouts to camp. Many times we return wondering if these boys will every get it, many times we return absolutely sure they won't. We've been there to hear that Scout dismiss all of our words of encouragement and continue to say "I can't!" We've seen the dark clouds form in a Scout's eyes when he starts to doubt his ability to do something. But we've also been there when the light comes back after he finally does it. That's usually what we think of when we talk about personal growth.

What I'm talking about is a much more subtle form of personal growth that many Scouters wait literally years to see in their Scouts. It comes when a Scout finally realizes that complaining and worrying is not going to get the job done and determination sets in. Probably every Scout has, at one time or another, failed a test. Most of the time we'll see the dejection in his eyes and have to jump to rescue his confidence. But there are those rare occasions when we're surprised.

That's what that Scouter was smiling about. One of his Scouts failed a swim test and instead of being dejected and running off to some other place in camp to cheer himself up, or crawling into his tent and hiding, he takes a step back and finds the determination to keep trying. That Scout has just taken a giant leap. He's realized that failure is not the end of the world, and that he can probably learn something from it. He's now determined to do whatever he has to do to pass that test. If it means spending more time at the pool learning instead of playing, so be it. If it means taking one less merit badge, so be it. If it means no trips to the rifle range with his buddies, so be it.

No Challenge To Big

As a Scouter, when you see that look of determination in a Scout's eyes you instantly want to be his greatest cheerleader. It's no longer a question of if he'll be able to pass the test, but when, and you want so badly to help him that you're in danger of getting in his way. At the same time, you know he has to do it on his own - he wants to do it on his own.

That's what I call personal growth. Sure, personal growth happens all the time, with every requirement a Scout passes. But the best kind of personal growth comes when you least expect it. When that Scout has learned enough about himself that he can make that leap. It's at that moment that you know Scouting works, and will continue to work. You know that however joyful it is for you to see that determined look in his eye, this Scout will experience twice that when he finally succeeds. Your moment of joy comes before he succeeds because at that point you know he will - and after that there'll be no stopping him. His moment of joy comes after he succeeds - when he suddenly realizes he can do anything he puts his mind to.

My wish for you, and every Scouter or parent involved in Scouting is more smiles. Let's get out there and make people smile!