I remember the day my mom told me I was going to be a Girl Scout, clearly. I was so excited because both my older sisters had been Girl Scouts and finally it was my turn. I was in 2nd grade when I got my first uniform, went to my first meeting, and met a whole group of new people. I joined my older sister’s troop because my mom knew the leader and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. At the time I never imagined I would have the experience, the knowledge, and the skills that I do now thanks to Girl Scouts. I know I am not the only one that can relate to this so here’s a list of things you will only truly understand if you are/were once a Girl Scout.
1.Competition of selling Girl Scout Cookies
I’m not sure if this was just my troop but there was
always a sense of competition of who could sell the most Girl Scout Cookies
each year. I always wanted to sell enough to get the best prize and have
bragging rights that I sold the most. I remember going door to door in my
neighborhood trying to sell them, and I even sold them out of my locker to my
friends in middle school each day to bring in the count.
2.“Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”
You remember this little song like the back of your hand and probably will never forget it.
3.Swaps
Your troop probably made swaps and you couldn’t wait to go to camp so you could trade them with other troops. You probably had a hat or bag filled with them.
4.World Thinking Day
I never fully understood this day at all but I remember always getting excited about going around and eating food and making crafts from all around the world. It was a fun time to get together with other troops in the area that you didn’t see often
5.Overnights in a museum/aquarium
Being a Girl Scout presented you with lots of opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise. One example would be you probably stayed the night in a museum or an aquarium at least once. Also you probably wished it would turn into Night of the Museum and were a little disappointed when it didn’t.
6.The Promise & Law
Even if I wanted to try and forget either of these I would not be able to. Having to recite them every week to bi-weekly at meetings for many years has it stuck in my head forever.
7.The uniform
Getting my first uniform was so exciting, I had a brownie sash and I still have it to this day. As I got older though I realized how ugly these uniforms actually were but I still feel a sense of pride when I see my vest hanging in my closet.
8.Patches and Badges
There is a sense of pride with how filled in I had my ugly uniform. I loved earning a new badge and putting in the work. I also loved making it into a competition with my troop to see who could earn the most
9.Bronze/Silver/Gold Award
Being able to say you had any of these awards was meaning you were elite. If you had the Gold though you know you were the best of the best in the Girl Scout community.
10.Juliette Gordon Low
Without this amazing woman you would not have had the chance you had of being a Girl Scout. If you were lucky enough you have made the trip to Georgia to her birthplace and know what a special trip that really is.
11.People thought all you did was arts and crafts and bake.
I can not stress enough how many times my friends are confused when I told them I’ve shot a gun or hiked the Appalachian Trail with Girl Scouts. Everyone expects us to not do cool things with Girl Scouts but I can successfully say I could survive in the wilderness on my own for a week thanks to Girl Scouts
12.Never being ashamed
Being a Girl Scout was one of my favorite experiences I had while growing up and I will never be ashamed of this
