Alumnae Story
'It Is Great to Be a Kid Again'

By Leigh Brown
Antigo, Wisc.
formerly of California
and Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council

I cannot think of a better time in my life than when I was in third to fifth grade, being a military "brat" and having Girl Scouts as a way to keep me going while my dad was away on a ship for three years. My troop was wonderful—we did so much. But the thing I remember the most was that they were there for me when I needed a friend or someone to talk to.

We had a Father/Daughter Dance and since my dad was gone, I had proxy dads through my Girl Scout troop and that meant a lot to me. Right before we were scheduled to move from San Diego, Calif., to Woodbridge, Va., our troop was scheduled to attend the Jamboree. So my troop made it possible for me to stay and not move so that I could attend.

What a great experience—thousands of girls all there to celebrate being independant women. I wish that I could experience that again.

I never found this kind of troop again, until when my daughter was 5. My father called and asked when I was going to schedule my daughter's first Daisy meeting. Now being a Daisy, Brownie and, as of a few weeks ago, a Junior Leader, I really get to experience this fun, enjoyment and love all over again. Plus, I get to see it through my daughter. She is more excited than I think I was, and I was crazy about Girl Scouts. But also I can see it in other girls as well.

This has been a life lesson for me but now as an adult I am learning so much more, and it is great to be a kid again.