In need of some help

[Somebody]

Background:
I turned 16 in May. That puts me just 2 weeks away from 16 and a half years old.
For nearly the past year, my Eagle Project (for Boy Scouts) has sat nearly idle.
For my Eagle Project, I am planning to make a new war monument in the downtown area of my town to recognize the soldiers who fought in wars who enlisted from my town between the end of Vietnam and 9/11.
I need to have it done by my 18th Birthday.

I need some freaking motivation. I want to do it. I want to do it more than anything I have ever accomplished in RA2, iRacing, Ace Combat, and any other game I have ever played. I want it more than Varsity Baseball or JV Basketball combined.

I need help to get myself to do it. I need motivation. I know how important it is. I know how big of an affect it will have on me.
I know how much regret I would have if I never finish it.

Any tips to get working?

[Enigm@]

What I've been doing for my Eagle project is getting alot of the troop together to help ya. Then the adults in my troop and me get supplies and start working from the ground up. Hope it helps.

[Sage]

What are you making it out of? A war monument could be anything. Unless you're a skilled stone mason... I don't know if that's the best path for the Eagle project.

Do something that's more like a huge DIY project. Build a giant treehouse for the local orphanage :)

If you're really pushing for the memorial though, do something more like building 50 or so wooden crosses, painted white, with holders for american flags and set them up along the main street in your town during veterans day. or something.

The biggest thing is to START. Once you start you know what you have to do. Just go for it!

[J24]

I have no idea what the american scouts are like, but

The biggest thing is to START. Once you start you know what you have to do. Just go for it!

^^QFT^^

[Resetti's Replicas]

It's all is the psyche.  You need to convince yourself that you are doing this because you want to, not because you have to.  You like building things, so think of it more as a leisure activity.  Devote a selected time of the week to working on your project, but stop for the day when it starts to feel exhausting.

[Serge]

Get your fat ass off the couch you lazy bum, and start working on it!

Is that enough motivation?

[kill343gs]

Want me to temp-ban you till you send me photographic proof you've started working?

[Vertigo]

^lol^

[Trovaner]

I would say that your best bet is to do something that your good at.

Obviously, planning is the most important step in any major endeavor:

First you need to figure out what your options are. What materials/equipment are available to you and within your current budget? Working with materials that you have experience in will make things easier and will allow you to be more intricate. Generally, you have the choice of working with wood, metal, paper, stone, or clay but you could also do a combination (I would try to limit myself to a maximum of two materials).

Figure out what you want people to get out of seeing your monument. What feelings are you trying to portray to your audience (Sadness, courage, triumph, bravery, respect, proud, leadership, and pride come to mind first for me)? By limiting the number of feelings that your piece represents, it will have a stronger impact on those who see it (I would once again limit myself to two feelings).

Determine the scale of your monument by examining how much time is available to work on it and how much detail would be necessary to express the designated feelings. People tend to overload themselves by doing something difficult in a short amount of time so be weary of making a similar mistake. You will also want to take into account how motivated you will be in the future. I, like many others, get bored of working on the same project for long periods of time. If you don't think you are to the task, simplify it until you are.

Disassemble your designated feeling into characteristics that could be associated with it (a thesaurus is sometimes useful for this step). For example, being proud makes be think of being bold/imposing and bright. Then think of how you can express these feeling using your material. Continuing from my example, I could use brilliant colors with a strong contrast between line thicknesses (this would be in the form of a drawing on paper for me but the same principles apply to other materials).

After doing all the above, you should have a rough idea of what you want for your monument. Whether it be abstract or detailed, begin to formulate a complete picture in your head or on paper. Further research may help to develop your ideas. Be sure to sketch/write down as much as possible so that you don't forget what your plans are.

Look at a calender and set key goals for your project. The more goals that you make, the easier it will be to stay ahead of things and get it done on time. Plan to have everything completed a month before your deadline (that way you have a little bit of wiggle room in case you fall slightly behind). I am a terrible procrastinator but if I was motivated enough, I would definitely plan things out like this (and given that the amount of time available to you).

[Somebody]

Well so far here is what I have done on my project.
My town has a large stone containing bronze plaques for multiple early wars. There is also a smaller stone for the Korean War, and a stone identical to the Korean War for the Vietnam War. Both have bronze plaques as well.
My stone will be identical to the Korea and Vietnam war memorials. A stereotypical headstone shaped granite stone with a bronze plaque.
I have gained approval from my local American Legion post that they like the project, and did not have any active plans for it. I also have obtained permission from the town selectmen to build on the land. I have obtained a quote from the local company which has done the recent monuments, and it most likely going to run about $3000 for the project. I am callin the company tomorrow to confirm the quote (Its a year old so I want to make sure the prices have not changed).

[Badnik96]

Didn't know you were a Boy Scout, Somebody. I am one too. :D

Nowhere near my Eagle project though.

[J24]

what is the eagle project anyway?

[Resetti's Replicas]

O_O That's 3000 American dollars, right?  Where are you going to get that kind of money???  Do all Eagle projects cost that much?

[Somebody]

I already have many people willing to donate money (although I am not allowed to ask, and I haven't), plus the last yard sale my troop had made OVER 900 dollars. I am going to have to collect names so it will be a busy schedule for getting things done, but it will be something that I am more proud of than doing a small project. And it will always be there, for my kids, grandkids, etc. to see.

[Naryar]

*yawns*

[Somebody]

Coming from the French guy sitting behind the computer, who doesn't even get out enough to like stereotypically normal French things, I don't really give a damn.

[Incredirobotwars]

Somebody, if you don't do this - who else will? it's not just for you, it's not just for your town, IT'S FOR YOUR COUNTRY. It may not end up the greatest monument in the world, but it WILL be one made by YOU. It will be a part of you that will far outlive you, and will in a way make you immortal. Now get out there and do it!