One September evening during my kindergarten
school year, my mother and I attended Scouts’ Night
at my elementary school. That evening, while attending
the same gathering with her 5-year-old daughter, a lady
named Dorothy Paterson decided to become a troop leader
for 5- and 6-year old Girl Scouts called “Daisies.”
As it turned out, I became one of Mrs. Paterson’s
Girl Scouts that night.
That fall, she began meeting once every month with a group
of about 20 girls, teaching us about Girl Scouts and leading
us in culturally enriching activities. Over the years,
several other girls joined the troop, left, returned,
and later moved on to different things. Thirteen years
later, I am one of three girls that are still active in
Paterson’s Troop #4369.
As I look back on my years in Girl Scouts, I realize how
much I have learned and gained through her leadership.
Girl Scouts is greatly focused around choosing goals and
achieving them, no matter how close or far-reaching they
may be. At each level in Girl Scouts, there are interest
projects to explore different activities that go along
with each topic. Once a series of activities is completed,
one receives a badge–not only as a reward but also
as a reminder of what has been accomplished. I |
have found that this is a universal method
in life–determining your objectives and taking necessary
steps to reach them. My troop has participated in numerous
educational activities, some of which have been Engineering
Day, three overnight stays at Sea World, health and nutrition
fairs, and of course Girl Scout cookie sales! Through
these activities, I have gained exposure to so many different
aspects of life that I may not have experienced otherwise.
Our most impacting project, in which I have been most
involved, concerns breast cancer awareness. In 1998, Paterson
developed breast cancer, and after a successful recovery,
she took the opportunity to make her troop aware of the
disease. Recently, I have volunteered for the Susan G.
Komen Race for the Cure in Houston and took part in the
opening flag ceremony in 2002. I was a member of the girl
planning board for the “Daisies in Bloom”
event held at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center last year, which
brought Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts together with their
moms to learn about breast |
 Dorothy
Paterson, left, and Deban Becker, right, look at Katherine’s
quilt she made as part for her Gold Award project.
cancer, types of early detection, and forms of prevention
through a series of workshops.
A significant part of Girl Scouts involves performing
community service hours. In previous years I have worked
with underprivileged children, and our troop has volunteered
at shelters and collected needed items for women and
children. In December I received my Gold Award through
a project I completed for The Rose Diagnostic Center.
As part of the project, I completed a Breast Cancer
Awareness quilt to be displayed at the new building
for the Rose Diagnostic Center in Houston. This clinic
provides mammograms and other healthcare at reduced
prices for women who may not be able to afford this
care otherwise. I presented the quilt at this year’s
“Daisies in Bloom” event, as well as the
Houston International Quilt Festival, in order to provide
positive support and understanding to those who visit
the clinic, as well as thank those foundations that
have supported the cause for breast cancer awareness
in partnership with Girl Scouts. I often thank my experiences
as a Girl Scout and the leadership of Dorothy Paterson
for the values and knowledge that they have instilled
in me. While some of these projects have involved large
amounts of work and time, I am happy to have found a
cause I so strongly support. |
