Neel Vadher
Eagle Scout Statement of Ambition & Life Purpose
Introduction - Scouting
Scouting has been an influential part of my life. It isn't only the camping trips with burnt popcorn or the endless meetings of knot-tying that have changed who I am today-it is the many lessons that I have been forced to learn and will stick with me throughout my life. The learned personalities or character traits-those will stay with me in every facet of my life.
As a scout who has experienced 4 (and played the role of many more) leadership positions, I have learned something separate from every role I've had. As the den chief and a younger scout, I learned how to be coachable, and to learn from the older scouts in the troop. My role as patrol leader taught me how to lead by example, as I was meant to serve as the inspiration for my patrol of younger scouts. As I continued to grow older, I eventually took on the role of Senior Patrol Leader-a position I held with great pride. As SPL, and an older scout at the time, I learned how to effectively communicate with my troop, as just demanding no longer worked, I needed to relate on a personal level and be understanding.
These various roles within my troop have taught me lessons that I will carry with me in everything I do-the rest of scouting and beyond (hopefully again in scouting later down the line as an adult volunteer).
Aside from knots, something else that has been drilled into my head is the Scout Oath and Law. Recently, during college applications, I have realized that one aspect of the Scout Law stands above the others for me-trustworthy. In fact, I wrote a whole supplemental about the importance of honesty and trustworthiness. Throughout my life, I will continue to repeat the Scout Law to myself, emphasizing the first word in everything I do and everyone I talk to. As for the Scout Oath, I hope to continue to "help people at all times," continuing my role in the Principal's Advisory Council to help my school community and throughout life in general.
Since the start of my scouting "career," I have changed each and every year for the better, and I will continue to change in my future. But as of now, these are my goals:
Short Term Goals
With the short amount of time left in high school, I ultimately hope to enjoy my time with my family and friends while still setting myself up for a successful future and accomplishing my goals. My personal goal for myself (as someone who likes to attend events only if my friends are there) is to attend events even if nobody else is going (such as Powderpuff). Beyond that personal goal, I have academic and professional goals.
I hope to pursue my student-led organization, A True Financial Start, expanding it before leaving for college and passing it on to another high schooler so that it can be carried on, impacting more people and staying alive. To do this, I plan to expand into multiple chapters (to increase the probability of at least one being successful), as well as get younger students on board to continue to advocate the cause throughout high schoolers and middle schoolers, reaching out target audience.
Extracurricular-wise, I would like to finish my senior year of club soccer, stay fit, and enjoy my final times with these friends on the pitch. My real goal here is to be able to attend as many practices and games as possible to make the most of the time I have since I will soon be a freshman in college.
Additionally (and very obviously), my short-term goals include getting into colleges (yes, multiple). I ultimately aspire to go to UPenn. However, with the many schools I am applying to, I am sure that whichever one I end up at will be ; a good fit for me and hopefully I will succeed there. In order to maximize my chances at my top universities, I will ensure I manage my time effectively so as to complete all applications at least 1 week prior to the due date. Another academic goal is to get all A's, not letting "senioritis" get to me!
Time permitting, I want to get back to woodworking/carving, something that was fun during COVID and a hobby I picked up but never continued.
Long Term Goals
Beyond my time in high school, I hope to attend college at a 4-year university (the schools I am applying to are listed below)
- Pitt - Honors & Regular / UNC / Penn State / Upenn / NYU / Cornell / U-Mich / UMD / Princeton / UVA / Georgetown / Boston College /
Villanova / Temple / Duke / UT - Austin
During my time at one of these schools, I aspire to study Economics as a major and a minor in either sociology or cognitive sciences. Additionally, to ensure my mom is happy, I will take advantage of every opportunity I can during college, having fun while pursuing my professional career. I hope to learn the various Economic policies and tools used to control the Economy and how that relates to the stock market and finance world (possibly majoring in finance as well - school-dependent).
In a perfect world, in 5 years, I will be done with my time in university (undergrad) and will be participating in a paid internship in the Economic field, contributing to research and development of the Economy. Beyond that, I hope to eventually work my way into the financial world, ultimately pursuing an MBA and using it to work as a financial analyst or manager, helping people control their finances and invest.
I plan to, indirectly, continue my scouting career-giving back to my community in any way possible. Whether that is serving as a volunteer at a local food bank or with a local Boy Scout troop (or even Troop 83 if I am close enough during school), I will continue my scouting journey and utilize the many skills I picked up during my time as a scout.
Beyond 5 years, and as mentioned in many of my college essays, I aspire to eventually research and develop innovative economic solutions to the increasing inequity in access to healthcare-everywhere from Philadelphia to the Philippines.
Life Purpose
As I reflect on my journey through scouting, I realize that the skills and values I've developed are ones I hope to carry with me throughout my life. My purpose is not just to succeed personally, but to give back to the communities that have shaped me. I envision myself continuing to be a part of the scouting tradition, volunteering with local troops to inspire the next generation of scouts. The values of leadership, service, and perseverance that I've acquired through Boy Scouts have shaped the way I approach life, and I want to ensure that everyone (hopefully) lives by these same values.
Beyond scouting, I see myself building a future where I continue to make an impact, not only through my career in business and economics but also through family. I hope to pass on these values to my children, fostering a love for adventure, learning, and giving back. Whether it's through helping out with a troop or simply sharing these lessons around the dinner table, scouting will remain an integral part of who I am and the legacy I hope to build.
Another key part of my life purpose is to continue spreading financial literacy through A True Financial Start (TFS), an organization I co-founded with a close friend. I am committed to expanding TFS and its mission, helping even more people develop the financial skills they need to succeed. Whether through direct community involvement or integrating financial literacy into educational curriculums, I'm determined to empower others and continue the value from scouting which I consider most impactful-mentorship.
