On March 12, girls all over the world will celebrate Girl Scout Day and remember their trailblazing founder Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low. Raised in Georgia, Daisy was enthusiastic about the arts as well as sports; she was a writer, thespian, artist, and swimmer. Daisy eventually married an Englishman, and while living in England, she met the founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, who served as Daisy’s inspiration for the America-based Girl Scouts. She eventually returned to the US, where she started her first troop in her hometown of Savannah, GA, in 1912.

Girl Scouts supported many radical ideas from the onset. Daisy believed that girls should not only be prepared with skills for life in the home, but should also have skills for outside the home. As an arts lover and athlete, she encouraged sports and art appreciation.

Daisy wanted girls of different backgrounds to blend together and to learn from each other. She embraced the handicapped at a time when others did not. Most importantly, Juliette Gordon Low saw that females had the potential to be so much more in every possible field. She created a place where these girls were nurtured and encouraged to take their first steps to accomplish goals in the fields of their choosing.

I slept through my first Girl Scout meeting. I was only two years old, and my mom was the leader for my sister’s Daisy troop.  As I got older, I remember idolizing the older girls who always seemed to be having so much fun as scouts. I was able to tag along on field trips and activities for years before I was finally old enough to become a Daisy myself in kindergarten. I can still remember the pride that I felt wearing my Daisy smock. The pride grew exponentially with each petal that I earned. I have been involved in Girl Scouts now for 11 years. I have slept on the floors of museums, hiked through mountains, and studied sea life, all while making long-lasting friendships and developing my confidence.

My favorite part of Girl Scouts is girls giving back. I remember the excitement I felt when I went to a pajama party hosted by an older Girl Scout troop. The older scouts played games with us for a couple of hours, and by the end of the night, the girls held celebrity status in my mind. Every once in awhile, I would see one of these girls in town, and I was thrilled if they returned my “hi.” A few short years later, it was my troop’s turn to host a pajama party for the Daisies. I was filled with pride when I saw that the girls were engaged in our activities while I earned the next patch on my vest.

I am currently working toward my Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award that can be achieved in Girl Scouts. All Gold Awards must include an independent project that lasts a minimum of 80 hours. I am running science experiments for girls in an after school program for disadvantaged students. Women and minorities are much less likely to major in science and other STEM subjects, which leaves them unqualified for higher paying STEM jobs. I am hoping that the girls will see me as a role model while we experiment together.

My project will also include a book drive to enhance the science section of the library at the after-school program. I am videotaping myself working on experiments at home to be uploaded to YouTube so that maybe students in other parts of the world can be inspired. Even at an early stage in my project, I have come to realize that some lessons will revolve around perseverance, determination, and commitment. If Girl Scouts has taught me anything, it’s that I may end up learning more than the girls in my workshops.

So happy Us day, Girl Scouts. Here’s to many more!