Because of Girl Scouts

Being a Girl Scout has been the single-most impactful experience in my life.

Because of Girl Scouts, I helped lead the largest girl-led event in history. Because of Girl Scouts, I earned scholarships from outside organizations to fund my dreams. Because of Girl Scouts, I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Girl Scouts National Convention and spoke in front of 6,000 people.

My name is Madeline Salvatierra, and I’ve been a Girl Scout for 13 years.

At the age of 16, I was given the opportunity to be a member of the planning team for G.I.R.L. 2017, Girl Scouts’ national convention in Columbus, Ohio and the largest girl-led event in history. Ten thousand girls, volunteers, and supporters came. I led the design of 10 breakout sessions for this convention and recruited speakers from around the world.

At the opening ceremony of the convention, I was an emcee in front of 6,000 people. I attended many rehearsals to practice reading from the teleprompter and get used to the “Britney Spears” microphone I would be using. I got to introduce many well-known people onstage, including Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to outer-space! At G.I.R.L 2017, I also met with Olympian Gabby Douglas, Chelsea Clinton, Barbara Pierce Bush, and former US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.

These experiences were only possible because of Girl Scouts.

College applications are stressful. Girl Scouts gave me the experiences I needed to bolster my application and earn me an acceptance letter from every school I applied to, including highly selective schools. I received all three of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, which are awarded to Girl Scouts who take sustainable action to improve their community and world.

For my Girl Scout Silver Award, I persuaded my county government to install permanent signs advising dog owners of their legal obligations to clean up after their pets. These signs are still in place five years later, and the parkway, once littered with dog waste, is now much cleaner.

For my Girl Scout Gold Award, I created Camps to Explore and Empower, an innovative summer day camp that empowers underserved youth to pursue their dream careers. My goal is to break the cycle of poverty since approximately half of kids in low-income families continue to live in poverty as adults. I spent over 300 hours on this project and designed more than 40 hands-on activities for kids to explore potential careers. I started the camp in 2016, and it is now held annually at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope. More than 60 campers, 50 teen volunteers, and 25 volunteer career speakers have participated in the camp I started. I want to see it grow and have pitched my curriculum to more than 45 organizations nationwide.

Girl Scouts gave me the framework to learn how to take action. Because I earned my Girl Scout Gold Award, I received $39,000 in outside scholarships. One of my life dreams is to attend the Semester at Sea study abroad program, where students take classes on a ship and sail around the world for one semester. Because of Girl Scouts, this dream is possible.

Because of Girl Scouts, I have a love for the outdoors. My troop competed in Cadette-O-Rama, where Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6-8) learned how to start fires, saw wood, and pitch tents. I went hiking in national parks in Wyoming and spent 63 days over the course of eight summers at Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Camp Scherman. At Camp Scherman, I learned how to light a match for the first time. I gave horses a bath; I slept under the stars; I cooked my own food; and I made some of my best friends and best memories.

Girl Scouts helped me find my future career. I served as a Girl Advisor to the Girl Scouts of Orange County Board of Directors, attending board meetings and representing Girl Scouts at various OC events. This position enabled me to network with business executives who inspired me to pursue a college degree in business. I was recently selected for a prestigious Entrepreneurship + Innovation Freshman Fellowship at my college. Just 50 students from more than 10,000 in the incoming freshmen class received this fellowship.

If you are looking for opportunities for your girl, I would ask you... Do you want her to be a powerful girl who inspires others? Do you want her to make the world a better place? Because of Girl Scouts, she can make a stronger impact than she believes. Girl Scouts will give her the resources to make a difference in her community and the whole world.

I recently started college, and although my time as a girl member in Girl Scouts is over, I have the entire rest of my life to capitalize on the skills I gained as a Girl Scout. I plan to volunteer with Girl Scouts in college, and maybe even work for Girl Scouts someday.

Be a Girl Scout. I promise you won’t regret it.

______________________________________

About Madeline: Madeline is a recent Girl Scout alum with 13 years in Girl Scouts. She has just begun her studies at Arizona State University where she is looking forward to earning her business degree. As a Girl Scout, Madeline earned all of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Madeline created Camps to Explore and Empower, an innovative career-exploration summer camp for underserved youth.