Advice for the Aspiring Gold Award Girl Scout

Each year, we celebrate Girl Scouts from our Council who have achieved the highest honor in Girl Scouting, The Gold Award. Someone once described the Gold Award as being “what you really want to be remembered for” in Girl Scouting. For many, the leadership and organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment that come from “going for the Gold” set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.

To earn their Gold Award, Seniors and Ambassador Girl Scouts build a team of trusted adults, peers, and leaders in their community to guide them through challenges and support their success. Their Gold Award project fulfills a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global), creates change, and will become sustainable. Undertaking a Gold Award project is far more than just a nice service project. Gold Award projects demand the highest level of organizational, leadership, and project management skills. Class of 2024 Gold Award Girl Scout Crystal Robinson (of Troop 10188) relives her process of earning the Gold Award and shares valuable advice for girls aspiring to undertake this highest honor.

The Project

Crystal’s journey to earning the Girl Scout Gold Award was deeply rooted in her passion for art. Knowing the immense value of the arts in education and social connection, and recognizing how music, visual arts, dance, digital design, film, theatre, and academic success intertwine inspired her Gold Award Project, “A Fresco Expo: The Art House.”

Partnering with the National Art Honor Society, Crystal developed a six-part art workshop series that welcomed students from Somerset Academy Middle/High School and Somerset Arts Conservatory in Pembroke Pines. She also spearheaded small booth events throughout the year, encouraging students to become creators or engage with those practicing various art forms.

Through her program, art students felt empowered to showcase their talents, while others experienced bleach art, chalk art, and print media for the first time. For her, the project was not just about creating art but also about making a meaningful and lasting contribution to her community.

The Process

Crystal found the process of earning the Gold Award to be smooth, as she was able to incorporate the project into her everyday life, including her school community and visual art activities. “The structured guidelines helped me stay organized, and being able to align the project with my interests made it enjoyable,” Crystal shares. Rather than being an extra burden, the project became a mesh of her high school, Girl Scout, and personal routines.

“The most challenging part was definitely completing the proposal,” she admits. Crystal had to fully communicate her idea, connections, and vision for the project, which required detailed planning and careful articulation. Ensuring that every aspect of the project was clear and feasible took considerable effort, as did gathering the necessary approvals and feedback. This stage of the process tested her ability to effectively convey complex ideas and maintain patience through multiple revisions.

The Impact

Crystal sees her Gold Award project as a significant milestone in her high school and Girl Scout journey. “It allowed me to leave an impact and a part of myself with the community,” she reflects. The project symbolizes her dedication, creativity, and ability to bring a vision to life. For Crystal, the mural serves as a lasting reminder of what she can achieve when she combines passion with effort.

As Crystal prepares to begin her studies at the School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, she recognizes the lasting benefits of her Gold Award experience. “Being able to communicate a full plan and idea out loud, on paper, or to another person will definitely help me,” she notes. The experience has honed her organizational and communication skills, which will be crucial in her future as a designer and visual artist. Crystal’s confidence in her ability to execute large-scale projects from start to finish is something she will carry with her into college and beyond.

Advice for Aspiring Gold Award Girl Scouts

“If you aren’t excited to start your project, then you haven’t found the right idea.” She emphasizes the importance of choosing a project that resonates deeply with you, as this will make the journey more enjoyable and the outcome more meaningful. “When you find something that clicks, it should feel easy to go about, to put the work in, to see the end result.”

To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, read about all the inspiring projects from the Class of 2024, and start on your own journey towards Girl Scouts’ highest honor, please visit our website.