Bronze Award

Rachel is finishing her sixth year of Girl Scouts. That means she has been a part of Girl Scouting for over half of her life.

Last night she was awarded her Bronze Award. It is the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. Each girl was presented her Bronze Award by one of her parents. The parent presenting the award had to give a brief speech about what their daughter has taken away from Girl Scouting. Of course, P.K. was conveniently out of town, so I had to stand up in front of the crowd and talk. One of my worst nightmares.

I spent much of the week leading up to the ceremony trying to figure out how I could get out of speaking. Then I started thinking about what Rachel has learned from all the time she has spent with her fellow Scouts. Rachel is very self confident. If someone asked her to stand in front of a crowd and speak, she would do it and assume from the beginning that she could do it well. She does not get that from me. Her experiences in Girl Scouts have nurtured that trait in her. She has been given countless opportunities to try new things. She isn't afraid to try something new. Given the opportunity she will never say, "I can't." She will say, "I'll try it." Usually she tries and succeeds. When her leader was introducing the girls she said, "Rachel makes being smart cool, she is kind and very self confident."

The next big award is the silver award which she can earn as a Cadette and then it is onto the Gold Award which she can earn as a Senior. Senior Girl Scouts can also earn college scholarships.

Here's to Girl Scouting and my Bronze Award recipient!