What did you do for your Gold Award project?
My project addressed the issue of animal displacement during emergency situations. I collected 15 kennels and blankets and gave them to a trusted organization, so that when a person needs a kennel for an emergency situation, the person can go to the organization and get a kennel to keep their pets safe. My project majorly focused on disaster relief.
How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience?
I measured the impact my Gold Award project had on my audience by viewing how many visitors my website had. My website has most of my information and when people view it, I know my project is being understood. I also measured my project through collecting kennels, discussing my project, and making sure my project is understood and used.
How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement?
My project is sustainable beyond my involvement by the organization (Perfect Fit Wellness Center) that I trusted to help distribute and store the kennels. By getting this organization help, this will help people who live in the local area continue to get kennels; and since Perfect Fit Wellness Center is helping, I will not need to be so involved. My website will also help my project keep going into the future as it will be a good source of information and will not need my constant attention.
What is your project’s global and/or national connection?
My project’s global connection is my website. The website is intended to reach people globally and help people understand and use my project. The website also has a blog page intended to help other Girl Scouts understand the Gold Award. The website is intended to keep going for as long as possible, and reach as many people as I can.
What did you learn about yourself?
Through the Gold Award, I learned many things about myself. I learned that I am strong, determined, a problem solver, and a great advocate for change in my community. I learned that I can continue even when times are difficult. I am determined enough to continue and work through my problems. I also learned that when things do not go my way, I can be a problem solver and come up with a better idea. Now that I am done with the project, I learned that I am a very good advocate for change and can help shape the community for the better.
How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future?
Earning my Gold Award will impact me in the future because it will help me get jobs, a career, and college opportunities. The Gold Award will help me stand out from other people when applying for jobs and colleges. It also helped me learn to be better determined and use my learned leadership skills.
Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience?
The Gold Award was an important part of my Girl Scout experience because it helped me wrap up my time as a Girl Scout and was a high note to end on as a Girl Scout. It was important because it allowed me to use all my years of experience to create one large project based on my past experiences and use everything I had learned.
How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?
Earning my Gold Award helped me become a G.I.R.L because it really pushed me to become better, use my experience, and become a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader. I became a go-getter through my project by becoming inspired to help the community and really wanting to achieve this award. My advisor also helped me become inspired and go forward, collecting kennels and reaching out to people. When kennels would not work, or people did not respond to me, I became an innovator to come up with a new idea. I was a risk-taker doing this project, it was such a large project it took confidence and some riskiness to actually do it. To become a leader, I had to delegate my team, and take responsibilities I usually would not. I had to delegate my team, take charge, set goals and dates and become the leader I had the potential to be.
**IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org.