As a long time (and lifetime) member of The Girl Scouts of America, I always get asked the same question: "Didn't you just sell cookies and get badges handed to you?" With this being the 104 year anniversary of Girl Scouts in the United States, I believe that there is no better article to write than one answering the many questions that people might have about girl scouts, and finally putting those stereotypes to rest.
The Girl Scouts of America, founded in 1912 by Ms. Juliette Gordon Low, strives to "build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." Juliette Low gathered a small group of girls from her hometown in Savannah, Georgia and inspired them to not only embrace who they were, but to show their strengths and talents in the Progressive Era.
The Girl Scouts Program teaches values that every Scout promises to follow in their everyday lives, as stated in The Girl Scout Law:
First of all, Earning Badges isn't easy. It takes effort, concentration, and dedication larger and stronger than you can imagine. Also, they're not useless. I remember someone telling me that the badges I get in Girl Scouts are never going to mean anything. Well, thanks to Girl Scouts, by the time I was in the eighth grade I knew how to create a meal using the five main food groups, how to change the oil in a car, and how to pack a weeks worth of clothing into one backpack, and go hiking with that bag. The skill set that I have developed from my 12 years as a Girl Scout have allowed me to overcome challenges that I have faced in my life with ease.
Secondly, Cookie sales are more than just a competition. The main reason why we sell cookies is so we can learn marketing and business strategies that will prepare us for the real world. We learn financial responsibility and accountability, and transform into businesswomen ready to break the glass ceiling.
And last, but certainly not least, it's more than just a social hour. In our meetings we discuss ways in which we can better our community and our world. We transform into true leaders ready to make a difference, and this is one thing that many Girl Scouts that I have met over the years hold as one of their favorite things about being a Girl Scout. We have completed community service projects, whether that be a food drive, a beach cleanup, or visiting the elderly in nursing homes, and have received many awards from The Girl Scout Headquarters as thanks for our efforts. Every year, girls are marked as leaders, and they use those leadership skills that they have learned in all aspects of their lives, inside and outside of their troop.
So, next time you meet someone and they proudly say "I'm a Girl Scout", don't make light of it. You never know when they might be the ones changing your tire on the side of the road.
