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Chasing Career Goals at High-Speed
“Sounds fun, so why not? Let’s go to the races!”
Girl Scout Senior Breanna loves trying new things and taking advantage of the vast variety of Girl Scout programming. Breanna has attended Girl Scout summer camp, first as a camper and now as a counselor-in-training; volunteered at Girl Scout events; earned the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards; and collected her favorite Girl Scout first aid, pottery painting, and STEM detective badges. Her most recent adventure? Two exclusive racing events at Road America and the Milwaukee Mile that explored careers in engineering and motorsports.
“I wanted to attend these events because some of my friends and troopmates love cars. This would be a different experience for me because I’ve never been around racetracks, but I thought it would be interesting to learn more about something that my friends are so passionate about,” remarked Breanna. “Turns out, these experiences were even more fun than I thought they’d be, and it helped confirm my interest in engineering as a future career.”
At the Road America event, Breanna and other Girl Scouts from across Wisconsin learned from members of America’s Winningest Porsche Race Team. The day included a warm welcome by Victoria Thomas, co-owner of Kellymoss; behind-the-scenes access to the Kellymoss paddock; trackside access to see racing action; a VIP lunch in the Porsche hospitality suite with Porsche drivers Ashley Freiberg and Loni Unser; and hands-on experience learning how to change lug nuts on a tire with the drivers themselves.
At the Milwaukee Mile event, Breanna enjoyed watching the cars from pit row as they completed test trials, drove laps, and went through inspections; touring the garages and talking with driver Scott Dixon; and chatting with a top female mechanic and engineer. While speaking with the team’s head mechanic and engineer, Girl Scouts saw firsthand how these women were living out their dreams. The female professionals offered insight into how they got into the field and what inspired them, while also giving advice to the girls on how they could apply future college or higher education degrees to the racing profession.
“We got exposure to high-profile leaders, a lot of them female in a largely male-dominated field,” reflected Breanna. “I learned that creating connections through networking and internships is important in getting a step-up in careers. I learned that being able to sell yourself and your skills to other people is vital when pursuing your passions. These experiences validated my dream of becoming an engineer.”
Breanna’s mom, Andrea, is also no stranger to all the unique experiences that Girl Scouting has to offer. Andrea has been Breanna’s troop co-leader since the beginning and volunteers at Girl Scout summer camp and during the Fall Product and Girl Scout Cookie Programs.
“They ask—I come,” joked proud Girl Scout mom Andrea. “I love volunteering because it’s quality time I spend with my daughter. I help girls gain exposure to leadership opportunities, and it’s important to me to show that girls can do literally anything. I believe it’s crucial to give back, inspire more female leaders, and give girls more opportunities.”
“After hearing about all the fun that Breanna had at the Road America event, I wanted to go myself. So, I jumped at the chance to experience the Milwaukee Mile event with her,” stated Andrea. “It was special to see Breanna engage with the female role models and professionals. The takeaway messages instilled to the Girl Scouts were that the sky is the limit to what they can do, they can do anything they put their minds to, and to always follow your passions.”
“As a Girl Scout, I never thought I’d go to the races. These two racing events were loud…incredible…awesome…and totally worth experiencing,” beamed Breanna.
Where Confidence Grows
Whether she's just starting out or ready to lead, Girl Scouts is where girls grow through friendship, fun, and fearless exploration - building skills, confidence, curiosity, and connections.
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