This has been expressed by countless adults, many of whom are Girl Scout alumna or parents of Girl Scouts. They have experienced the benefits of this 106-year-old organization and know the impact Girl Scouts can have on a girl’s life. I am one of those girls. I have been a Girl Scout for 12 years— I began as a Girl Scout Daisy and I am currently a Girl Scout Ambassador.
I believe that the Girl Scouts has made me more confident and better at speaking to other people. Girl Scouts has given me so many amazing opportunities to get out of my comfort zone, including: giving a speech in front of over 300 business leaders at Girl Scouts’ Distinguished Women’s Award Celebration, presenting a bylaws amendment at our annual council meeting (which passed) and, serving as a council delegate at Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Convention in Ohio which had thousands in attendance. Girl Scouts has allowed me to learn new things and discover many things I didn’t know that I was good at— all of which help to build my confidence.
I have also developed leadership skills through the counselor in training programs at Girl Scouts’ Camp Conowingo and program aide training at other camps that have allowed me to teach young girls to love and enjoy Girl Scouts and camp like I do.
All of the events and programs that Girl Scouts offers, including selling cookies, really help me put myself out there and talk to more and different people than I normally would. I am among the top cookie sellers in my council and have sold over 30,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. Through the cookie sale we learn five important skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. I believe that my people, money management, goal setting and business ethics skills will help me tremendously with reaching my future goals. I will be able to use all of them when applying for a job or college; planning a trip and, even when I have a job.
Traveling to England and France has been my most exciting Girl Scouts adventure. We visited the historic Pax Lodge as well as other iconic landmarks. I was in a Girl Scout travel group that held events, some of which I helped run, to raise money for our trip so that by the time the trip came it was completely paid for by the money that we had earned. Going there was one of my best adventures but it all wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the courage, confidence, money management, goal setting and people skills that Girl Scouts has taught me.
I have developed strong relationships with my Girl Scout mentors through the years and learned many skills from them. Because of all of these experiences, I can say that Girl Scouts is the best leadership organization for girls.
Jenna Diehl is a Girl Scouts Ambassador, Troop 296