Girls in Guiding do amazing things – in their communities and in their own lives.
Girl Guides of Canada scholarship recipient Safira shares how Guiding has been a huge spark in her life.
My involvement with Guiding began at the age of five, as a Spark. In fact, some of my earliest memories come from playing sock wars and reading the Spark stories in meetings! These amazing memories kept growing as I continued in Guiding through Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, Rangers and then Link. I have vivid memories of my first sleepover, of the first time I put up a tent, of backpacking into Camp Westover and so much more. Not only did I make some of my best memories in Girl Guides, but also some of my best friends that I still keep in touch with are from Guiding, even if they are on the other side of the country. (Shout out to you, Janelle!) We have such a unique and special bond because we have known each other since we were young, and share 14 years of memories (and counting!).
Girl Guides has also played a huge role in helping me develop leadership skills that serve me well as I enter this next phase of my life. For example, my leadership skills grew out from planning Girl Guide events, first a Spark sleepover, later a district camp, and eventually an international trip. I have also learned how to work with and empower different age groups through bridging events and being a junior leader. These skills have been extremely applicable to other aspects of my life, such as planning large events while I was on the students’ union, coaching younger debaters, and taking on different leadership roles. Girl Guides is the organization that gave me the skills to excel in these activities and effectively help others in my community.
In addition to helping me build up my skills, Girl Guides has shaped my values. Most notably, Girl Guides always encouraged me to stand up for what I believe in, which sparked my interest in public speaking, debate, model United Nations and civic engagement. In pursuit of this interest, I spent last year working as a Page in the House of Commons, and this year working in an MP’s office. It is also part of the reason that I decided to study Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University, with a specialization in development policy studies.
Guiding has had such a pivotal role in molding the person I am today. Whether it be debating at Alberta Girls’ Parliament, hiking the Alps in Switzerland, practicing my Spanish with children in Mexico, or just volunteering with some of my closest friends, Girl Guides has sparked my passions and given me so many opportunities to grow as a person. I am so grateful to Girl Guides for supporting me with travel opportunities, a scholarship and of course infinite amounts of love and encouragement. I could not have asked to be part of a more supportive or impactful organization.
Guest post by Safira Teja from Calgary. Safira is studying Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University in Ottawa and is the recipient of a Girl Guides of Canada Barrett Family Foundation National Scholarship.
Applications close April 9 for our 2018 Scholarships. Whether you’re studying engineering, education, history or anything in between, there’s a scholarship that’s right for you!
Leave a Reply