Today we welcome Lauren Simmons from Troop 1101 to share her experience as a Girl Scout through the years.
I spent the majority of my daughter’s beginning years in the military, either assigned to a temporary duty location or deployed. I missed many firsts, including her first day of kindergarten while I was in South Korea. It is the hardest thing to do to leave your children with someone else while they’re experiencing so many new things for the first time.
After I retired from the Air Force and came home, I realized I didn’t know my children and they didn’t know me. I didn’t have the relationship I wanted to have with them so I set forth a new mission for our family. It was our mission to find something to draw us closer as a family and teach our kids skills they would use for the rest of their lives.
Girl Scouts became a retreat for my daughter and me. Through Girl Scouts, we have been able to spend quality time together in a setting that fosters courage, confidence, and character – the same values I carry with me today from my time in Girl Scouts. I am now her troop leader, and it has been the greatest honor to lead these amazing girls.
It is so important to me to teach girls they can do anything they set their minds to. Showing them through my own experiences in the military they can be whatever they want to be has been one of my greatest accomplishments. The fact I get to be a part of my daughter’s life and spend time with her, while also being a leader in my community has made a difference in my world and will continue to make a difference as I inspire these young women to be a part of something bigger.
I don’t know if Girl Scouting will create future pilots and engineers. I don’t know if these girls will grow up to be nurses or homemakers or teachers. What I do know is Girl Scouts will have a HUGE influence on the girls no matter what path they choose for themselves.
I am so grateful Girl Scouts has allowed me to get to know my daughter and see how resilient she is. I am honored to be part of facilitating an environment that will inspire them to be the leaders and world changers I know they are. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for these go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders!
“Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.” – Juliette Low