Sharon Resident Jiho Kang Achieves Eagle Scout Rank > 뉴스 보스톤코리아

(Boston=Boston Korea) Reporter Moyng Sool Chang = Jiho Kang (11th grade), a Korean-American student residing in Sharon, Massachusetts, has achieved the highest rank in Boy Scouts — Eagle Scout — and received congratulations from the community. At the Eagle Court of Honor ceremony held on April 4th at Grace Chapel in Foxborough, Massachusetts State Senator Paul Feeney, State Representative Ted Philips, and Sharon selectmen attended to celebrate Kang's achievement and highly praised his project and community contributions.

Kang's Eagle Scout project involved installing a scoreboard table and bench platform for the Sharon Youth Baseball & Softball Association (SYBSA). The project was completed at Deborah Sampson Field in collaboration with the Sharon Recreation Department, creating facilities that local youth athletes and families will use for years to come.

This achievement was not accomplished overnight. Kang began his Scouting journey in second grade when he saw a Cub Scouts advertisement banner at the town square and asked his parents to enroll him. From an early age, he loved nature and enjoyed learning new skills, steadily progressing through Scouting ranks by consistently participating in camping, hiking, and various outdoor activities.

His accumulated achievements were remarkable. While the minimum requirement for Eagle Scout is 21 merit badges, Kang earned 37 and continues to pursue additional badges even after achieving Eagle rank. Notably, even during a period when his arm was broken and in a cast, rather than becoming discouraged, he set hiking goals. He completed 70 miles total, starting from 5 miles and working up to 20 miles. In addition to earning badges in swimming, hiking, and cycling, he also obtained emergency first aid and lifesaving badges, and currently works as a lifeguard at the YMCA.

Kang's mother, Jungsun Kim, explained that "the biggest secret was respecting Jiho's ability to set his own goals and plans and carry them out. Scout activities were truly a process where children learned independence and leadership through mistakes and collaboration within a safe space provided by adults," she said.

Indeed, through Scouting, Kang served as Senior Patrol Leader, the highest youth leadership position in his troop, and recently received the Congressional Award Gold Medal. He has also consistently continued playing musical instruments and performing community service, engaging in broad activities within his school and local community.



Kang advises younger scouts to "take a step outside your comfort zone." Below is a Q&A with Jiho Kang and his parents.

▶When did you start Scouting activities?

Jiho: I was first attracted to scouting in 2nd Grade. When I was younger, I wouldn’t ask my parents to sign me up for many activities, however when I saw the banner at my town square, advertising cub scouts, I immediately asked my mom to sign me up.

▶As Korean parents, supporting the journey to Eagle Scout must not have been easy. What was the secret to doing it so well?

Parents: When Jiho took the lead in setting specific goals and plans and executing them, we respected this and followed along. Our role as parents was to quietly support and encourage him from behind so that he could experience and carry out the program freely and confidently alongside other scouts in a safe environment. Cooperation among adult leaders and parents is important in Scout activities, but we believe adult involvement should be minimal. The secret was having the child lead from the front while parents support from behind.

▶What was the biggest factor in Jiho Kang completing all requirements to become an Eagle Scout?

Parents: Jiho regularly recited the Scout Oath with other scouts at weekly meetings (to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight). We also used this as a backdrop at his Eagle Scout ceremony. Repeating the Scout Oath this way seemed to build his own determination.

Jiho: For me, achieving Eagle Scout wasn’t focused on the actual requirements themselves, in reality it was the result from a culmination of activities that I did over time. My love for being out in nature and learning new skills, was what motivated me to go on all the outings and scout meetings. The requirements themselves naturally filled out on their own as I participated more and more in the program.

▶What aspect of Scouting was most attractive to you?

Jiho: Mainly, it was to be a part of a community that shared a similar love of nature and learning. While many of my friends were content with playing video games at home, I preferred to go camping or play sports. Being a youth led organization, scouting itself created a sort of familial brotherhood where I really got to know everyone else personally. It was a place where I could have conversations with older scouts, as they had also gone through the same things I was going through at the time, as well as asking and getting answers to questions that my parents or other adults couldn’t necessarily understand/relate to. As I grew older, I found myself becoming the one giving answers to the newer scouts.

▶I heard you earned many more merit badges than the minimum required for Eagle Scout. This must have taken enormous time and effort. Do you have any special secrets for time management?

Parents: Jiho earned merit badges not simply to become an Eagle but to challenge himself. He especially persevered with badges in areas he liked or was curious about. The minimum Eagle Scout requirement is 21 merit badges, but Jiho earned 37. Two of those were earned after achieving Eagle rank. He's currently challenging himself for the canoeing merit badge, which began with a 7-night high adventure trip last summer where he had to paddle over 50 miles. One memorable moment was when he broke his arm falling during a track meet. When he got a cast right before vacation, instead of being discouraged, Jiho set hiking as his goal. He completed 70 miles total, starting from 5 miles to 20 miles. While only one activity among swimming, hiking, or cycling was required, he deliberately challenged all three, and earned emergency first aid and lifesaving badges as well, which is why he now works as a lifeguard at the YMCA. His greatest secret seems to be "self-motivated drive" — planning and executing things one by one even amidst busy school life.

Jiho: Once again, I feel like the merit badges that I earned naturally built up as I continually participated in scouting. Going to summer camps allowed me to get 4-5 merit badges every year, and I got a merit badge every year through our troop program called Merit Badge University. I think if you set aside time to go on a few scouting trips every year, you will most definitely get at least 21 merit badges. There are some harder merit badges such as hiking or cycling, however if you find a friend that's willing to do it with you, it makes the time go by much faster.

▶If you could start Scouting again, would you? If so, how would you do better, and what advice would you give to younger scouts?

Jiho: Most definitely, I would do scouting all over again. The people I met, friendships built, and so many different learning opportunities helped shape the person I am today. If I were to do things slightly better, I would say focus even more on spending time with other scouts and participate in the unique occasions when they pop up. I personally believe that growing up involves learning and building a diverse set of skills. If you are too focused on one thing as a child, you will miss out on so many other potential life changing experiences.

To younger scouts, my advice is to take a step out of your comfort zone as that is the purpose of scouting. If an activity remotely interests you, then I would say go for it. You won’t be judged, and all the other scouts probably know just as much as you do. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Older scouts not only share the same interests as you do, but have all gone through the same things you did. I assure you that pretty much everyone would be willing to help you. Adult leaders also take the time out of their schedule to be with us, and it wouldn’t be wise to simply let their knowledge and experience go to waste.

▶Is there anything you'd like to share specifically with Korean scouts or Korean parents?

Parents: In our experience, Scouting was an excellent opportunity for children to learn independence and leadership through solving problems together, learning from mistakes, in a safe space provided by adults. Based on this, Jiho served as Senior Patrol Leader, the troop's highest youth leader, and as a result of not stopping his challenges, recently received the Congressional Award Gold Medal. He also actively and joyfully continues playing his favorite musical instruments and performing community service.

Finally, what we'd like to tell Korean scouts is that the skills and values learned through Scouting are precious assets that will greatly contribute to your group and local community. Rather than fixating only on the result of becoming an Eagle Scout, we hope you enjoy the experiences gained in the process. We have no doubt that as these meaningful times accumulate layer by layer, you will grow into great adults who contribute to society.

Jiho Kang with his parents

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Original Korean article: https://bostonkorea.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news&wr_id=44800