I grew up in Montara, a quiet town of 2000 on the California coast, 25 miles south of San Francisco. Montara is an old community, founded as a stop on the Ocean Shore Railroad, and it is relatively undeveloped. The town is a paradise for kids, located between the beach and forested rolling hills. Our house is on a dirt road at the edge of a forest, near various trails that lead to the beach or to Montara Mountain. This location, and my family and community, have shaped me as a person. The open space where I live enabled me to spend much of my childhood exploring and having adventures outdoors. In addition to exploring on my own, in first grade I joined a local Cub Scout Pack. With help from my parents, who became Den leaders, I often went camping and hiking, and began to learn outdoor skills. Cub Scouting also reinforced the message my parents have taught me regarding the importance of personal values and ethics. …show more content…
Boy Scouting has been one of my main activities during middle school and high school, and it has had a great influence on me. Boy Scouting has been challenging and fun. My Troop is very active, and I have spent one or two weekends a month hiking, camping, or backpacking in the Santa Cruz Mountains and other parts of the Bay Area with my friends. The learning curve was steep, but Boy Scouting helped teach me to respect and enjoy nature and to take care of myself. As I progressed through the ranks of Boy Scouts, and ultimately earned the rank of Eagle Scout, I took on the responsibility of leading younger Scouts and helping them learn the outdoor skills that I had learned. In the process, I developed leadership skills and learned the importance of teaching and helping others, and working as part of a