Scouter Spotlight: Meet Amir Rupshi

Week-2-Amir-Rupshi

Your pack, troop, crew, or ship is no doubt full of outstanding volunteers that tirelessly give themselves to Scouting and receive little—if any—recognition. Well, now is your chance to change that. Click here to tell us their story, but only after you read this week’s Scouter Spotlight.

Today we continue our cross-country quest to recognize outstanding Scouting volunteers with a stop in Carrollton, Tex., to meet Amir Rupshi (above right), Scoutmaster of Troop 758, an all-Muslim troop with a whopping 80 Boy Scout members.

Read on to meet Amir and hear his take on the Scouting program.

Tenure in Scouting: Involved with the program for 23 years, including time spent as a youth with Cub Scouts and earning the Life rank in Boy Scouts.

Scouting family: I’ve never had any children in the Scouting program. I volunteer because of the value the program has for youth. I don’t want any Scout to suffer from a lack of leadership or training.  

What’s your favorite Scouting memory?

I remember earning the Cycling merit badge as a boy. We rode all through the City of Chicago one day and visited the zoo, the Navy Pier, the convention center, and more. Because our parents were usually busy at work, these are memories my friends and I wouldn’t have had without the Scouting program.

What does Scouting mean to you?

Scouting is a way of life with a lot of fun and adventure built in. At the same time, it strengthens the moral and ethical fiber of our youth.

What would you say to a boy who is thinking of joining Scouting?

I would tell him: “You will do things you never thought you would do in your life. You’ll get leadership skills and communication skills that will help you in the outside world. You’ll get other skills that will help you in your career, too, such time management, financial responsibility, and the ability to work as a team on a project.”

What do you see is the goal of the Scouting program?

The Eagle Scout rank is the greatest accomplishment any youth can attain. However, it’s only a personal goal. There’s a greater goal in Scouting: building better people in life and helping them help others. Working toward the Eagle Scout rank helps do this, but it’s the journey that is most important. I was never lucky enough to become an Eagle Scout, but I have helped more than 50 boys do so. I feel lucky to have helped our Boy Scouts learn to take the right steps in life.

Many thanks to Amir for letting us get to know him better. Tune in next week for another edition of Scouter Spotlight.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.