By Hilary Carroll, Customer Care Manager

“You can do this. You’re a Girl Scout.” This is the self-talk running through my head as I prepared to enter the City Public Works Manager’s office to present my idea. I was nervous. I was in 8th grade and had never before been part of such an official meeting, let alone presenting at one. But, I came equipped with my plan carefully written out in long hand on loose-leaf paper. After all, I was a Girl Scout—and we are always prepared!

As I met with the City Manager, I explained to him that I was worried the river running through the center of our town was being polluted and I wanted to do something about it. To help make city residents aware, I was hoping for permission to mark all the storm drains in the town with the message: “Dump No Waste, Drains to River.”

This Take Action project, the first one I ever led, was for my Girl Scout Silver Award. Girl Scouts gave me the platform and the tools to help make a change in my community. I wasn’t just an ordinary 8th grader – I was a Girl Scout!

One of the amazing things about being a Girl Scout is the effects are truly life long. My Silver Award project was the spark that introduced me to environmental protection and it is a passion that has continued through to today.

When Juliette Gordon Low created the first Girl Scout troop over 100 years ago, she wanted to create a place where girls could grow and develop leadership skills. Juliette imagined a movement where girls could go beyond their typical daily activities, advance their skills, and make a difference in the world around them.

As we remember Juliette Gordon Low on her birthday, October 31, I know she would be immensely proud of what Girl Scouts have accomplished together. I can only imagine her reaction to hearing stories of all the amazing things girls have done that she never could have imagined. Like Badgerland’s own Claire Evensen who taught herself to code and built an app to give teens tools to cope with anxiety and depression. Or Evansville Troop 3086 who, with one Gold Award project at a time, is slowly repairing and revitalizing a local cemetery. These girls were inspired to be brave, take on new challenges and make a difference in their communities, because they are Girl Scouts!

Happy Birthday Juliette Gordon Low and thank you for giving us all the opportunity to be Girl Scouts!

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