Being a Girl Scout Brings Out the Best in Me 

“Mom can I get those cookies?” I remember begging my mom the moment I saw girl scouts selling those cookies: Thin-Mints, Tag-A-Longs, Samoas–in front of Ralph’s many years ago. Little did I know that not long after we bought those cookies I would begin my Girl Scout journey at my elementary school. Back then, I was just a little girl using her “free time” hanging out with friends for what would be our very first Girl Scout project: from collecting clothes and plush toys for our troop to selling cookies, camping trips and field trips to the zoo.

These “just for fun” activities actually built my character and diversified my interests, which would help me as I got older, and our projects had the potential to make changes in the world. When I started my Silver award project in Freshman year, I taught ballet and dance lessons to children and adults at Arcadia Gilb Museum. It was fun, exciting, and even a little bit scary since that was my first teaching experience. 

For my Gold Award project this year, I chose to contribute my time to Villa Esperanza,  a nonprofit that serves individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The student library needed to be as dynamic as possible to encourage the students to engage and read, a skill that challenges many of them. I made library cards for the students, installed a bookshelf, chairs, and expanded the library’s book collection at the speech and language center. 

A few of our fellow Mayfield girls have also experienced the positive impact of being a Girl Scout.

“The program has taught me so much about being confident, strong, prepared, and more,” said Keara Keelty’21. “I have loved every moment of being a Girl Scout because I have had the chance to better my community in any way I can.” Keelty, a Girl scout kindergarten, recalled being particularly proud of painting a mural at her elementary school for her Bronze award.

“I have really loved all the camping trips and swim parties we used to do. It also gave me opportunities like marching in the Rose Parade and to be able to help so many people,” said Grace Fontes’21,  who is in the process of finishing her Gold Award project.

“In seventh grade for our Silver Awards, my troop decorated four children’s rooms at CHLA through the program Once Upon a Room,” said Natalie Hanna ‘22 who has been in Girl Scouts since first grade. “In the fall of 2019, I completed my Gold Award for which I decorated and added various activities to a waiting room at a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) office.” 

Girl Scouts welcomes a young girl’s uniqueness and curiosity with open arms, and empowers that same young girl to be the confident and independent young woman to change her world for the better.