The Birth of my Scout Name

A Scout name is a name bestowed to a Scout by his Scout Master/ Leader in recognition to his service and contribution to the troop or the community at large. Scout names can be inferred from animals, objects or nature, and the name that is given often represents the characteristics of the individual.

There are many variation of Scout names. They can be of a single word like 'Dragonheart' (Chief Commissioner of The Singapore Scout Association); two words often with an adjective description like 'Glowing Light' (National Training Commissioner of The Singapore Scout Association); and often with Native Red Indian influence.

On 7 May 2011, during one of our usual Griffin leaders outing/ meal, I was finally bestowed my Scout name after a long wait since I started Scouting almost 17 years back. But it was worth the wait. Considering the rest of the gang having animal-related Scout name, I began to wonder what will be mine. Finally at the end of our lunch on polling day, my leader/ trainer, Zaiphizat Putra revealed my Scout name. And I was in for a surprise, a good one.

Below as quoted by Zai to me.

~ DREAMCATCHER ~

It is the inanimate form of the word for 'spider'.

Some consider the dream catcher a symbol of unity among the various Indian Nations, and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures.

According to Konrad J. Kaweczynski, "Only good dreams would be allowed to filter through... Bad dreams would stay in the net, disappearing with the light of day." The good dreams would pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper.

This name coincides with your personality of always trying to catch your dream of a better world. Inspiring and uniting people to live in a beautiful world. Like the dreamcatcher, you only allow the good dream i.e. peace and love message to reach the masses and denounce or filter the bad dream or message from others.

_________________

The name stuck almost instantaneously as I always have an interest in dreamcatchers, partly because they looked fanciful and the thing about catching dreams. I even use to have a mini one as my key chain.

The long wait is finally over, and special thanks to Hoot Owl and Hummingbird, and also the company of leaders (Cloud, Leaping Deer, and Calm Armadillo) for a great lunch.

"The future belongs to those
who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' 

- Eleanor Roosevelt