I'm Changing the World Today

I went to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden, 2011. I had the most life changing experience and over the last 2 years have been giving that back to my unit heading to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan this summer.  

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

7 years ago I found out I was going to Sweden

From that day I’d never have expected to be where I am now. From that day:

- Made life long friends from my unit that keep cropping up at most scouting events. - Completed both my Queen Scout award and Gold dofe. - Passed my GCSEs and A-levels - Got selected to be a Leader for Japan in 2015. - Got into university to study Radiography - Took my unit to Japan and back, dealing with much more than I would have ever imagined - Somehow managed to find a Dutch IST member in Japan who I’m now happily in a relationship with - Got a job interview at the end of the month for a postgraduate job…

As with everything there is always struggles but the ability to get better and move on from things. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to go on a Jamboree - GO FOR IT AND NEVER LOOK BACK!

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

An update for you all: - I got the job! - I just put an application in to be a leader for the next Jamboree 😁

[wayfarerscout]

Scouting gives young people the capacity to make decisions for themselves… Scouting doesn’t need to be run by adults for kids. It can be run by young people for young people… May the spirit of Scouting live on, after the Jamboree… The extraordinary thing about Scouting is that, while languages may be different, even though the colour of the skin may be different, we are all together. We all promise we do our best. If there is a secret to share, it is that Scouting is a worldwide family. It can work for peace and change the world…. If young people come together on a camp from loads of different nations, when they grow up they will not want to fight each other… Remember sitting around this campfire…use this experience to make the decisions to govern your country (in the future, when you are leaders).

Highlights of the ScoutTED Talk by John May, World Scout Committee member. 23rd World Scout Jamboree, Japan 2015. (via roverscoutproblems)

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

Most posts I've seen today is about people's first photos together - and it made me think of how un natural the posed photos are. That's not the moment you remember, it's the ones that are funny, the ones that make you smile and the ones that make you realise your friendship. So here is mine and Teun's first photo together, nothing posed - nothing fake. Because the friendship came first there is all the best memories that came with it and have lead to us being what we are today. Yes I look gross, yes you can't actually see his face but does it really matter at the end of the day because the memory of him blowing biscuits in my face on the Jamboree as part of biscuit blizzard is a much better memory than the classic pull each other close and smile like you're not awkward #valentines #firstphototogether #realisticgoals #brainmumble #idontreallylikevalentinesday #words #meaning #memory #friendshipfirst #latenightthoughts #japanjamboree #jamboree #scouts

[katjaelisabeth]

“The real way to gain happiness is to give it to others.”

Robert Baden-Powell (via katjaelisabeth)

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

7 years ago I found out I was going to Sweden

From that day I'd never have expected to be where I am now. From that day: - Made life long friends from my unit that keep cropping up at most scouting events. - Completed both my Queen Scout award and Gold dofe. - Passed my GCSEs and A-levels - Got selected to be a Leader for Japan in 2015. - Got into university to study Radiography - Took my unit to Japan and back, dealing with much more than I would have ever imagined - Somehow managed to find a Dutch IST member in Japan who I'm now happily in a relationship with - Got a job interview at the end of the month for a postgraduate job... As with everything there is always struggles but the ability to get better and move on from things. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to go on a Jamboree - GO FOR IT AND NEVER LOOK BACK!

[featherweightfilms]

Kiarahama, Yamaguchi, Japan. August 2015

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

You can make some of your best friends through scouts. If anything it's taught me that there is like-minded people out there in the world. They might not be on your door step but what does that matter in this day and age? Japan for me was one of the craziest experiences of my life but I've come out of it with more than just the memories. I've got a bunch of crazy friends and a boyfriend. So I ask all of you - have you got out of it more than you think?

[colemckenzies]

i didnt fuckign know europe were swedish THAT’S WHY THEY WERE AT THE JAMBOREE CLOSING CEREMONY IN SWEDEN FUCK

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

Everything makes sense now!

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

Today is 100% my kind of hell, but going out and doing this presentation with a face of make-up and the confidence that gives me. Then if it doesn't go well, at least I look nice failing 🙌 #presentation #university #student #confidence #makeup #comeatme

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

Can’t wait to get back to this crazy bunch next week! #scouts #jamboree #reunion #hampshirescouts #missthem

[wayfarerscout]

How was the reunion, @imchangingtheworldtoday?

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

It was so lovely to see them again! 

They were just as mad and entertaining as ever

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

I have made some of my best friends over the last 3 years and they are just like family to me #scouts #bestfriends #journey #lifechanging #lovehim #lovethem #jamboree

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

Can't wait to get back to this crazy bunch next week! #scouts #jamboree #reunion #hampshirescouts #missthem

[cities-and-skyes]

Missing the jamboree sunsets

[wayfarerscout]

Because after a few days of arriving at Breakfast at Jamboree, to have to go back to my tent to get the Tag so I could eat, you learn to put it on first thing in the morning. 

(They wouldn’t let you enter the tent to get food if you weren’t wearing your tag. It wasn’t that far a walk to where my tent was, but you still felt like a goose walking back.)

Now, I feel naked without it.

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

DSC07836 by Clo..H Via Flickr: SONY DSC

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

WSJ2015 - Arena Shows by Scouting Adventures Via Flickr: Opening ceremony, aerial show, ceremony with Prime Minister and Crown Prince of Japan and closing ceremony.

[imchangingtheworldtoday]

_JPP9538.jpg by World Scouting Via Flickr: Arrivée des Équipes Internationale des Service pour le 23ème Jamboree Scout Mondial du 28/07 au 08/08 2015 à Yamaguchi, Japon. Photo © Jean-Pierre Pouteau