Akela Award Interview & Assessment 31stAuguest2019

Written by Ross Pary, Deputy Senior Sixer and Chief Scribe

 

Today was a very special day for me and nine others. Since we were  Akela Award candidates, we had the chance to get the prestigious Akela Award, the highest award we could achieve as a cub scout. The day started off with the ten Akela Award candidates meeting at the bus bay. Mdm Kerina then gave us our red and white scarfs, or the national scarf specifically used for national activities, such as the Akela Award interview. At 8.45 a.m., we boarded the bus with Mr Ng to bring us to Nanyang Primary School, where the Akela Award Interview was held.

                             (Nigel is not shown in the photo as he came later.)

At 9.15a.m., we reached Nanyang Primary, and Mr Ng gave us our groups and where to sit. My good friend, Asher, and I were together in group 4. After we all settled, the Scout Leader who started the interview introduced himself and explained to us a little bit about what the uniform code was. We had to wear our badges in a certain way for if we did not we would not be able to pass the interview and get the Akela certificate in October 2019, in Woodlands Primary School.

 

Groups 4 to 6 went for the team bonding exercises. Groups 1 to 3 went for the interview. One of my group members was Aloysius (from Greenwood Primary school), who had 26 proficiency badges on his right shoulder. Wow! That’s a lot! Anyway, our first activity was the Human Knot. The Human Knot was a challenge for us to entangle ourselves and then free ourselves without using our hands. It was a test of our cooperation. However, somehow we had separated into not one, not two, not three, but four different groups. It was like magic!

Our next activity was the Broken Telephone. We were supposed to pass the message that one of the venture scouts would tell us, and the last person would retell what they told to the venture. That was really fun!

Next, we had a short snack break for about fifteen minutes. After that, it was our grand e(drumroll please)… it was the interview!  We were led into a classroom where Addy and Daryl, two Scout Leaders, initiated the interview. Our two questions were, 1. What are the two most difficult challenges you have experienced in cub scouting? And 2. What is your most memorable scouting event?

I answered both questions with confidence. Soon, everyone answered and we went back to the canteen. Then, the moment everyone was waiting for…. We all had passed the requirements for the Akela Award interview!!!! Yay! We broke the record for Henry Park Pelican Scouts in having the most number of Akela Awardees. That meant we all could get our Akela Award Certificates in October 2019! Soon, we boarded the bus with Mr Ng and went back to school. While going back to the Kid zone, we shouted, “AKELA! AKELA!” at the top of our voices. As we did this, we reflected on how much hard work we had put in achieving the Akela Award and vowed to have the same attitude in everything we did. We have done our scout unit proud.