AxL sANe: Eagle scout here.

When I was in scouts, we had a member who was mentally challenged, and it carried over somewhat into his physical abilities.  He attended special classes at our school (went to a different school otherwise for challenged people), and could possibly have become someone who could hold a job and function on his own, but I would guess just barely.

And he worked his ass off in scouts.  It was actually a good life lesson for all us kids to have to work with him.  Many merit badges were modified to accommodate his limitations, but he hated that fact.  He would spend a lot of time at the campsite setting up his tent, failing, becoming frustrated, and finally succeeding, but refusing help from anyone.  He would struggle with his pack through hikes, but insisted on carrying all his own gear.  The older scouts always rallied around him but he insisted on not being treated in any special way.  New scouts would sometimes try to make fun of him, but that was quickly shot down by the veterans.  Over time he became inspiring to everyone that spent time with him because it made them appreciate their own lives and how much more easy things were compared to his struggles.

He actually earned Eagle Scout.  But I went off to college and I am a little sad that I never followed up to see how he turned out.  Weird to say, but he has remained one of the most inspirational people in my life.  Hope this kid gets to achieve his dream.

I know, CSB

holdmybones: bigfatbuddhist: Do you really want to diminish the rank of Eagle Scout?  When someone introduces himself to you and mentions that he is an Eagle Scout, you expect things:  Good at tying knots, rubbing two sticks together to make fire, horrible social anxiety, especially around the opposite sex.  If they just let ANYONE slide through, Chick-Fil-a is going to stop hiring them at all...

My brother in law is an Eagle Scout and I've never even seen him tie his shoes. He golfs and eats and.....I'm sure there's something else in there.