When Adam Bertich walked out of the Oxford United Methodist Church Sunday, he looked on the world with a new and unique perspective, that of an Eagle Scout.

“I feel like I can finally breathe again,” he said. “It’s been a long, long road.”

Family, friends and fellow scouts and scoutmasters from Boy Scout Troop 366 filled the sanctuary for the 15-year-old Oxford High School sophomore’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony.

“Nine years ago, Scout Adam Bertich accepted a challenge,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Rob Charlton, who served as the young man’s Eagle mentor.

“Not only to learn the ideals of scouting, but to live them in his daily life. Not just to be a good scout, but to become one of the best. Since that time, he has successfully met that challenge and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.”

Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. Since 1912, more than two million Boy Scouts have earned it.

“Of any 100 boys who become scouts,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Patterson, only five “will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree.”

Some famous Eagle Scouts include astronaut Neil Armstrong, U.S. President Gerald Ford, Director Steven Spielberg and Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel’s reality program “Dirty Jobs” from 2005-12.

Bertich received a letter of congratulations from Rowe that included some sage advice – “don’t get cocky.”

“I knew a guy who got his Eagle a couple years before me. His chest literally puffed up, and never returned to its normal size. He started walking around like the world owed him a living,” Rowe wrote. “Today, he is a miserable, pompous, pain in the butt with no friends, two ex-wives, and a job he hates.”

“Don’t be that guy,” Rowe continued. “Don’t wait for the world to acknowledge your accomplishments. By all means take pride in what you’ve done, but don’t let it go to your head . . . Roll up your sleeves, get out in the world, and put what you’ve learned to use.”

Evan Tucker, who earned his Eagle rank in 2011 as part of Troop 366, welcomed Bertich to the “brotherhood” and explained how this achievement will always benefit him, from the leadership skills and “sense of honor” he’s developed to the “instant bond” he will have whenever and wherever he encounters fellow Eagles.

“You are a marked man and the achievement will follow you throughout your life,” Tucker said.

Bertich’s Eagle journey began in 2007 when, as a first-grader, he began scouting as a Tiger Cub.

Over the next nine years, Bertich worked his way up the scouting ladder. He earned the Scout rank in March 2012 and joined Troop 366. Bertich became a Star Scout in 2013 and Life Scout in 2014.

Once he became a Life Scout, Bertich set his sights on the Eagle rank.

To achieve this, a scout must serve six months in a troop leadership position; earn 21 merit badges (12 of which are required) in a variety of areas; and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review process.

A scout must also plan, develop and serve as leader in a service project that helps a religious organization, school or community.

For his project, Bertich, who’s earned 26 merit badges, built and installed a pair of wood duck nesting boxes inside Oakwood Lake Township Park, a 300-acre park in Oxford, east of M-24 and west of Gardner Rd.

Scouting has taught Bertich how to be a good leader, which, according to him, means “knowing when to guide (people) and when to step back a little bit.”

“That helped a lot with my Eagle project,” he said.

Looking back, Bertich believes scouting has taught him many other valuable skills such as first aid, cooking and how to build a fire.

“All of it will help you later on in life,” he said.

When asked about his favorite scouting memory, without hesitation, Bertich replied, “The summer camps.”

“Those are a lot of fun,” he said.

Bertich is very grateful for all the help, encouragement and support he received on his journey from his parents, Tom and Lynda, Scoutmaster Blake Streeter, Troop 366 Committee Chairperson Diane Underwood and Charlton.

He encourages other scouts to tread the path of the Eagle.

“It seems like a long road, but it’s worth it in the end,” he said. “You’ll feel so good about yourself afterwards.”