Keep Track of Your Accomplishments —Even if College Is Years Away Be clear about your responsibilities and positions held. Specify the number of hours spent to complete training (e.g., to be certified in Red Cross first aid, CPR or tutoring). Describe areas of proficiency (e.g., science, crafts, song leader). Highlight honors and awards. Ask your supervisor and Girl Scout leader for reference letters to keep on file.

The Girl Scout Advantage
Get a Head Start with Leadership

By Susan Kantor, staff writer

When it comes to personalizing a college essay or applying for scholarships, it's clear that Girl Scout Gold Award recipients have a distinct—and well deserved—advantage.

Stefanie, a Girl Scout for 13 years and one of 50 students in the country to be named a National Coca-Cola Scholar (which included a $20,000 four-year scholarship), was told by one of the judges that her Girl Scout Gold Award project had given her an edge.

And Jessica, who recently completed her freshman year, also received college scholarship money as a result of her Girl Scout Gold Award. "In all of my applications," she said, "I talked about how Girl Scouts helped me become the person I am by teaching me how to succeed and fail, how to work with others, how to be a leader, and how to make the world a better place for everyone."

More Than Just College

But it's not just colleges and universities that value leadership and community service. When selecting applicants for after-school or summer jobs, potential employers also look for evidence of particular skills and accomplishments.

Jordan, who has served on her council's board of directors, earned her Girl Scout Gold Award and was offered more college scholarship money than she accepted, began building her skills early. "A lot of people don't realize how much training is offered to younger girls," she said, noting that she began program aide training at Girl Scout camp at age 13 and learned to belay (to secure a rock climber at the end of a length of rope) when she was 15. "I'm never intimidated when I have to do something big," she said, crediting her years in Girl Scouting for building her skills and her confidence.

Camp For Life

Girl Scout summer camp, in fact, offers five distinct training opportunities for girls ages 11 to 17: program aide, leader-in-training, senior Girl Scout troop assistant, counselor-in-training and counselor-in-training II. Completing the training for these positions, which have been designed to build measurable skills and develop self-esteem, is often what builds the confidence so necessary for setting ever more ambitious goals.