“Most people look up and admire the stars.

A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one.”

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We had the drop-in session for the girls working on their Gold Award Projects this past Sunday.  There were 5 of us from the Older Girl Committee/Gold Award Interviewers, and we all agreed, we spoke with some great girls!

But I'd have to say, not very many champions.  Most of the projects were under-whelming and not very hard to accomplish. Most of the girls had a good idea as to what they wanted to do, but it didn't seem very challenging to them.  Only a few were ready to "climb the mountain and grab the star!"

So what did we interviewers do?  We tried to pump them up! Get them to look outside their comfort zone into what their Gold Award Project could look like. We emphasized the importance of identifying their issue and root cause. We challenged the girl to find a project that would address this cause and make a difference in her community.  We asked many questions, knowing we wouldn't get most of the answers right away. 

And for some, we completely dumped cold water on them!  When one girl started her project description with, "I plan to start a Day Camp for..."  I had to just say no, that's not a Gold Award Project. I had to totally take her out of her comfort zone and think about issues she might be interested, who her team of support could be, who her team of workers could be, and what they wanted to accomplish. 

But my favorite quote came from the Mom who, after listening to me ask some easy questions and not getting the answers back, smiled at her daughter and said, "you're going to have to commit to doing the work for this!"  That Mom had nailed it:  the girl needs to do the work! And she needs to use her passion and drive to make it happen.  It's not going to look like a Girltopia Take Action Project, nor is it a group project, as her Silver was.  This girl is going to have to commit and do it.  Or not.  It's her decision. I'm hoping she chooses to climb the mountain....