Last September, my dad was diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma, a brain cancer both rare and aggressive. We have since taken measures to improve his chances of survival. He has been on a strict diet, stayed active, and undergone all recommended surgeries and procedures including chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately, his tumor has returned. We are looking into experimental treatments because his doctors have determined that traditional surgery will likely no longer be effective. Along this journey that will hopefully be resolved with my dad returning to health, almost everyone around us has helped us. From friends to neighbors, all who hear about my father’s cancer find ways to assist. My dad was the Chief of Palmer Fire Department, a mostly volunteer organization, and its members have been especially helpful. When the brain tumor was discovered, Dad’s lieutenant had shirts printed that read ‘Herman’s Gotta Go’ including a fire truck and a large brain. Others hung banners in his hospital room depicting all his closest friends, family, and most of the fire department wearing these shirts for him to see. During his stay at the Mayo Clinic, fire department families prepared dinners for my sister and me almost daily until our parents returned from Minesota. Throughout this whole experience, any time any of us spoke with any members of the department, they would ask about my dad and offer to help in any way. We would not have stayed strong and continued battling cancer for as long as we have so far without all their help. The fire department has come together showing how strong of a team they can be, not only when fighting fires, but also when helping one of their own. In the past, I had believed that leadership could only be as effective in perfect situations, due to my failure to understand prior lessons in scouting. I had learned that leadership could only come from power, and that smaller groups would be unable to lead because team members would have no reason to listen. This all vividly changed when I saw the City of Palmer Fire and Rescue family swoop in and save us. The community’s support for my family led me to realize that any group can be effective and that reliance upon leadership can be something that influences a team’s capability for the better. I saw the way the fire department acted in a new light, reconsidered my understanding of scouting leadership, and applied this understanding to what I witnessed. I watched as the fire department banded together to assist us in every aspect of our lives at the very moment when we thought our world was crumbling around us. Through this experience, I began to understand how teamwork can help every member benefit, not only in firefighting or scouting, but also in schools and communities. A team of students who form study groups can fill in the gaps in their knowledge and reinforce important ideas. Every member of a team can bring great strengths and improve the whole. While I work as a fireman and learn to become an engineer, I keep in mind these deep lessons. I hope to embody the care shown by the other Palmer firefighters as I move forward, being able to work effectively with everyone I might chance to be with. I hope to further use all of my experience in leadership and service to help myself and others in learning and advancing technology. I hope to someday design cars and engines, but I more than anything wish to help every community I am in, perhaps even the world.

Last September, my dad was diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma, a brain cancer both rare and aggressive. We have since taken measures to improve his chances of survival. He has been on a strict diet, stayed active, and undergone all recommended surgeries and procedures including chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately, his tumor has returned. We are looking into experimental treatments because his doctors have determined that traditional surgery will likely no longer be effective. Along this journey that will hopefully be resolved with my dad returning to health, almost everyone around us has helped us. From friends to neighbors, all who hear about my father’s cancer find ways to assist. My dad was the Chief of Palmer Fire Department, a mostly volunteer organization, and its members have been especially helpful. When the brain tumor was discovered, Dad’s lieutenant had shirts printed that read ‘Herman’s Gotta Go’ including a fire truck and a large brain. Others hung banners in his hospital room depicting all his closest friends, family, and most of the fire department wearing these shirts for him to see. During his stay at the Mayo Clinic, fire department families prepared dinners for my sister and me almost daily until our parents returned from Minesota. Throughout this whole experience, any time any of us spoke with any members of the department, they would ask about my dad and offer to help in any way. We would not have stayed strong and continued battling cancer for as long as we have so far without all their help. The fire department has come together showing how strong of a team they can be, not only when fighting fires, but also when helping one of their own. In the past, I had believed that leadership could only be as effective in perfect situations, due to my failure to understand prior lessons in scouting. I had learned that leadership could only come from power, and that smaller groups would be unable to lead because team members would have no reason to listen. This all vividly changed when I saw the City of Palmer Fire and Rescue family swoop in and save us. The community’s support for my family led me to realize that any group can be effective and that reliance upon leadership can be something that influences a team’s capability for the better. I saw the way the fire department acted in a new light, reconsidered my understanding of scouting leadership, and applied this understanding to what I witnessed. I watched as the fire department banded together to assist us in every aspect of our lives at the very moment when we thought our world was crumbling around us. Through this experience, I began to understand how teamwork can help every member benefit, not only in firefighting or scouting, but also in schools and communities. A team of students who form study groups can fill in the gaps in their knowledge and reinforce important ideas. Every member of a team can bring great strengths and improve the whole. I plan to spend my life doing whatever I can to help, whenever I can. I plan to work fighting fires and hope to design something lifechanging through mechanical engineering. While I work as a fireman and learn to become an engineer, I keep in mind these deep lessons. I hope to embody the care shown by the other Palmer firefighters as I move forward, being able to work effectively with everyone I might chance to be with.