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Gold Award Girl Scout: Faith Carino, Colorado Springs, “Band Lending Closet”

What did you do for your Gold Award project?

For my project, I created a lending closet the band students at my school can use for concerts. I wanted to give back to the music program that helps students. With the cost of instrument rentals, transportation, and other music related costs, our families are investing a lot of money into this program. I wanted to find some way to relieve that cost a little for them and give others who cannot afford it, the opportunity to try something new. I collected, sorted, and organized clothes that everyone has access to, so it eliminates at least one expense for our students’ families.

How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience?

I used sign-in/sign-out sheets, so I could see how many people utilized the closet for the concert. I also had many families reach out to me, telling me about their support and their interest in using the closet in the future. I took direct quotes from a few of the parents and students to show the impact.

How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement?

My band director has agreed to take over the lending closet. I have given him PDF files of all of the emails and forms we used for the project, so he can use it for other concerts and receive donations as well. The system I used is laid out for him and our future students. The closet is set up and stored at the school, ready to be used again for the spring concert.

What is your project’s global and/or national connection?

My project is linked to the national problem of funding for the arts. In the United States, when money is cut from schools budgets, art programs are the first to be cut. This means to participate in music or other arts programs, families have to spend more money, which is not an option for everyone. I also shared it with the National Association of Music Educators to share my project on a higher level.

What did you learn about yourself?

I have realized my leadership potential I have throughout this project. Organizing projects and problem solving skills were beneficial to complete this project. I now have a deeper understanding of the issue and a connection to my community I did not have before starting this.

How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future?

Earning my Gold Award will give me more opportunities in the future. Employers and colleges look for candidates who show hard work and dedication, which is an element of the Gold Award. I know that the things I learned throughout this project will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience?

I think it was important for me to finish the whole cycle. I have been a Girl Scout since I was a kid and had earned my Bronze and Silver Awards. I wanted to see what I could do and say that I had done a lot of good work while being a Girl Scout for so many years.

How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?

There are leadership skills that you are bound to earn during your Gold Award experience, and this project helped me see those, but I also became an innovator. You have to be able to identify a problem and come up with a viable solution. Putting it into place and creating a better experience for others was a result of this project as well.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org

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