Applied engineering science freshman Marty Opthoff has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, or BSA, since he was six. He has traveled across the country as a representative for BSA, and plans to remain involved as long as he possibly can.
Like many boys his age, applied engineering sciences freshman Marty Opthoff joined the Boy Scouts of America, or BSA, by becoming a cub scout in first grade. Within the first day, Opthoff was hooked.
“(In scouting), the youth are in charge,” he said. “When you’re on a sports team, you have a coach leading you through the entire season, but scouting is completely different. It offers unlimited possibilities.”
Most boys only stay involved in scouting until the age of 18 or younger, Opthoff said. Scouts are able to advance until they’re 18, and then they have the chance to hold leadership positions. Opthoff chose to stay involved throughout college because of all the opportunities it would bring his way.
“I’ve had the opportunity to do things that, these days, most people can’t do,” he said.
As a representative for the Order of the Arrow, the national honor society for BSA, Opthoff travels across the country nearly every weekend to represent scouting at national conferences, where he makes speeches meant to inspire boys to get involved.
“I try to help all of them realize how impactful this is on their lives, and help them make the best of all the opportunities,” he said.
Contrary to belief, Chief Okemos Council Field Director Clarence Smith said there is more to being a boy scout than camping trips.
“Our mission is to teach young men to make ethical choices over a lifetime,” he said. “We are a character-building and core-value organization, and all the things scouts are doing are vehicles we use to develop that.”
Biochemistry senior Brad Lichota, who also has been involved in scouting since the first grade, currently is an adviser for the BSA Okemos Council, where he mentors youth and arranges scouting events. He was a part of the Order of the Arrow as a sophomore and even got to meet President Barack Obama and travel to Saudi Arabia for a BSA conference.
But his favorite part, he said, is the camaraderie with his fellow scouts.
“Some of my best friends have served with me in scouts,” he said. “We went through the ranks together, and now, next weekend, we’ll graduate together. It helped me find true friends I can count on.”
Lichota said being a scout also taught him how to be a leader.
“It helps you be able to take ownership of what you do,” he said. “You realize that how much work put in is what you come out with.”
Opthoff and Lichota said they both want to remain involved in scouting as long as they possibly can.
“I want to make sure the kids are impacted by scouting the same way I was,” Lichota said. “It really shaped who I am as a person, and I hope the kids who join will get a lot out of it.”
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