Rank - Star: Starting to Shine
| Category: | Advancement |
|---|---|
| Notes: | For Scouts earning Star, at a court of honor or the meeting where they receive it. Specific requirements change over time, so check the current Scouts BSA Handbook. Part of a rank-journey series - see also rank-scout-the-first-step, rank-tenderfoot, rank-second-class, rank-first-class, and rank-life. |
Look at the Star rank badge. It's a star. And there's a good reason for that.
Up through First Class, the ranks were mostly about learning: skills, knots, first aid, cooking, finding your way. Star is different. To earn it, you started earning merit badges and exploring subjects you chose yourself. You put in hours of service to others. And you held a position of responsibility in the troop, which means other Scouts were counting on you.
That's when a Scout starts to shine, not because of the badge on the uniform, but because people start to notice what kind of Scout you are. The younger Scouts look to you. The adults trust you with more. You're becoming someone others follow.
Stars have another job too. For thousands of years, travelers have used stars to find their way in the dark. That's what a good older Scout does for the younger ones. You show them the way.
So congratulations, Star Scouts. Keep shining. Somebody behind you on the trail is watching to see which way you go.