Destinations: Sparking Passions for Social Change
Girl Scout Ambassador Audrianna is no stranger to putting herself out there and taking on leadership roles. She is a current GSWISE girl board member, national council delegate, and counselor-in-training at Camp Silver Brook. Always striving to gain new leadership experiences, Audrianna attended the 38th annual Girl Scout Global Leadership Conference in Boston, Massachusetts and Newport, Rhode Island this spring.
“This trip brought many new and exciting moments to explore different career paths and cultures, develop an idea of the future I want to create for myself and others, and most of all, meet so many new people,” shared Audrianna. “A few years ago, the idea of throwing myself into a situation where I didn’t know a single person would have scared me. But I found so many genuine and strong connections with girls from all over the country, and even more than that, a better ability to try new things and challenge my comfort zone. Throughout this once-in-a-lifetime conference, I got to share ideas, gain confidence, and practice the Girl Scout values with other passionate people.”
At the Girl Scout Global Leadership Conference, select Girl Scouts in high school from across the country and abroad networked, attended leadership workshops led by women consultants, and learned how to make a difference on social issues they are passionate about. Girl Scouts listened to keynote speakers, engaged with others at a cultural expo, and participated in workshops on topics like STEM, global issues, social justice, personal growth/health and fitness, stress management, human trafficking, college prep, financial literacy, mental health, gender, and LGBTQI issues. The Girl Scouts started the trip by exploring Boston—where they voted on touring the Freedom Trail—and commemorated the end of the conference on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. The girls left the Girl Scout Global Leadership Conference with new friends and a renewed eagerness to make the world a better place.
One of many pivotal moments during the conference that made an impression on Audrianna was during a breakout session on environmental policy. Audrianna connected with an environmental science specialist from Rice University, who explained specifi cs of climate change analysis, current and potential impacts on climate change from human activity, and how government policies and incentives impact climate change. The guest speaker’s willingness to answer questions and her passion for the field inspired Audrianna to dive deeper into the topic. Audrianna is now excited to pursue the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award by taking action and making a lasting impact on an issue related to environmental engineering or environmental policy.
“Throughout the entire conference, a recurring theme was that it’s okay to take up space; that our voices and our experiences matter and we can and should use them to speak up and make real change in the world—how powerful is that!” commented Audrianna. “This conference was exhilarating; it served as another opportunity to push the limits of what I’m capable of while building self-confidence. I gained networking skills, became a better, empathetic listener, and grew as an advocate while exploring social issues that resonate with me. I would encourage every Girl Scout to put in the effort of exploring every opportunity available to you and using those experiences to shape the future you want for yourself.”
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