A High School Girl Scout

Most people assume that a high school girl scout is a socially awkward, if not slightly delusional, person because they didn't seem to get the memo that selling cookies to strangers and spending the night in bunk beds wasn't cool anymore.

Contrary to that belief, Girl Scouts, especially older ones, run blood drives, schedule eco-friendly events, raise autism awareness, fundraises for nursing homes, and even sends aid to children in need. On top of all that, we went camping too!

While the events were fun, my favorite part of girl scouts was Christmas time. We would fundraise for Saint Peter's University Hospital through can drives, bake sales, and canning (posting up in, "strategic,"areas around town and asking for donations). But, the best part was making a massive 12x10 gingerbread house to donate to the hospital.

The event would take place all day. Music, family, friends, and creativity (and the occasional food fight) were the stars of the bake-off. A small, temporary community would form, where everyone had a purpose, everyone was useful, and no one was left behind. For a kid in high school, that time, was a thankful respite from the never ending pettiness of high school. The best comparison of our small baking community is Voltaire's Candide, where he finally finds an escape from Europe's treacheries and says, "We must cultivate our garden."Voltaire suggests happiness from a harsh world is found through living off the land and self-reliance. The only way to overcome the issues facing the world around them is by interpersonal reflection, cultivating more than just a physical garden.

Looking back on that time, I realize Voltaire did have a point, about self-reflection, and isolation. While our rapidly moving world influences our personal drives to the point of constant anxiety, I reflect, once in a while, on myself. In order to find our inner happiness, or true joy, we need to look inward and accept who we are before changing anything else in this world. I learned how to move through failure, because when you accept yourself, you know you aren't perfect. Just because you like yourself doesn't mean everyone else will either, it's just our human nature's variability. But, from being accepted, even for just a short time, I felt secure, reinforcing my inner strength. 

Corny, but in those simple moments of my life I felt so much hope. Within my tiny sub-culture, everyone had a purpose, and we could overcome anything. Just from that small amount of isolation and fun, I had felt needed and joyful. When we all relied on each other, we became more open, honest, trusting, and connected.  At the time, I never really thought about how much a few traditions, or other simple events, could become so significant.  

But, looking back, I realize how a group, or being part of a group, significantly effected my personal psyche. Today, I take that security, and project it into my life, and personality. By knowing myself, and accepting failure, chaos, and others, as well as the opportunity to discover community, I have transformed into a strong leader.