Who are Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts are Go-getters, Innovators,
Risk-takers, and Leaders. They’re girls who design robots, learn life skills,
improve our neighborhoods, and go on amazing adventures. They’re making a
difference.
Girl Scouts is a lifelong adventure full of friendship,
connection, service, and fun! Every Girl Scout has a unique story to tell,
and we’re sharing those stories.
Girl Scout
Lifetime Member, Dienamarie was a Girl Scout for 12 years and has been
volunteering with Girl Scouts of Nassau County in a variety of ways for 17
years. Currently, she is a troop leader in the Merrick Service Unit and she
mentors Girl Scouts in our council who are working toward earning their Girl
Scout Gold Award.
Name: Dienamarie
G.
Council: Girl
Scouts of Nassau County
Tell us about your
time as a Girl Scout. Looking back, what were some highlights, important
moments, life lessons, and/or favorite memories?
Girl Scouts has given me a well-rounded experience from the
beginning. I attribute that to my leaders and the program that I was given. It
allowed us to explore and grow in a variety of ways, trying things that were
new. Girl Scouts, from what I remember, started at a young age when your
leaders took the lead and that was alright. They were constantly encouraging us
to take the lead and by the time we had gotten older, we did take leadership
roles.
I loved becoming a Girl Scout Brownie and the ceremony that went
with it (we had a real mirror and fake but pretty flowers around).
I also have a million memories from a trip my troop took in my
Senior year of Girl Scouts. We went to Disney World in Florida and wore our
full Girl Scout uniform on the airplane both ways, and had the time of our
lives!
Did you earn your
Girl Scout Gold Award (or the First Class, Curved Bar Award, or Golden Eagle)?
If so, tell us about your project, what year you earned it and how working
toward earning this higher award impacted you.
Yes, I earned the
Girl
Scout Gold Award. I was able to do a series of workshops with sixth grade
girls who were entering middle school that next year. I focused on
self-confidence, self-esteem, courage to be oneself, leadership, etiquette,
positive self as a teenager, and glamour. I was able to work with the girls on
each of these things through fun and interactive activities and discussions. When
earning my Girl Scout Gold Award, I developed the leadership skills and the courage
to take on anything and everything that life throws at me. I was able to take
on so much more in college and in life because I had already led a project and
seen it successfully completed.
Did Girl Scouts have
an impact on your career choice/field of study? If so, how?
At first, I studied fashion design to build my skills
artistically and professionally. I love fashion and it has impacted my life.
Girl Scouts helped me focus on the path and lead the way for others to follow.
I went on to study art education, knowing my reach would be bigger. I am now the
Art Teacher for an elementary school where I am able to instill leadership and
courage into each of my students.
Do you continue to volunteer
with Girl Scouts? If so, how and why?
Yes, I absolutely continue to volunteer with Girl Scouts,
supporting girls the same way I was supported when I was a girl; helping them
build the courage, confidence, and character to be the leaders that they
already are. My mother and I volunteer as
two of the leaders for a
multi-level
Girl Scout troop of Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. I also volunteer as
a Girl Scout Gold Award Mentor for girls wanting to be Gold Award Girl Scouts.
What advice would you
give younger Girl Scouts?
Stay with Girl Scouts! Find your way and your will through
the leadership and courage Girl Scouts provides. Girl Scouts not only provides outdoor
experiences, but the inner experience and life lessons that we all need. We all
need to be women of courage, confidence, and character; we all need to be
Go-Getters.
If you could say
anything to your younger self, what would be?
If I could say something to my younger self, it would be tolive
with courage and leadership. Let your talents shine and help others along the
way. Being a Girl Scout will set you on the path.
What is one item you
always carry with you?
I always carry my Girl Scout pin and Girl Scout Gold Award
pin.
Tell us a little
about yourself. How long were you a Girl Scout? Did you participate in any
special Girl Scout groups and/or school teams/clubs? What are you passionate
about?
I have been a Girl Scout since I was five years old. All the
qualities of a Girl Scout are a part of who I am. I love being involved in Girl
Scouts, volunteering and giving back. It sets a fire in you to see the older
girls flourish and grow into the leaders they already are.
I’m also a Stage Four Breast Cancer Thriver and live on
being brave and fearless. I have been thriving since 2015 and will for a long
time- I will live.
It is a part of my
life and I will face it with courage, character, and confidence that I will
succeed in healing completely.
Healing
is what we all want and can achieve. I am working towards being completely
healed and multi-tasking life, because life is for living.