Throughout my life, I have been inspired by many women, but two stand out above the rest—Juliette Gordon Low and my mother, Phyllis Hall. These two remarkable women have not only shaped my worldview but also motivated me to work with the next generation of young girls.
Juliette Gordon Low, known as Daisy, was a trailblazer. In 1911, she attended a luncheon in London where she met General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts. During their conversation, she learned about his work in establishing groups for boys that focused on building character and teaching life skills such as first aid and outdoor survival. Her imagination was instantly ignited, and she began working with Baden-Powell’s sister to create a similar organization for girls in Great Britain. Upon returning to her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, she wasted no time. She called her friends, “Come right over. I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah and all America and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight!”
On March 12, 1912, she invited 17 girls to her home for a tea party, where they formed the first Girl Scout troop. The movement quickly grew, and within weeks, 60 girls had signed up. Her determination led her to sell her pearl necklace to fund the growth of the organization. What began as a small initiative in Savannah soon blossomed into a worldwide movement known as the Girl Scouts, where “the girls must always come first.” Today, there are more than 10 million Girl Scouts in over 92 countries, with over 50 million women in America having participated in the program during their youth.
The second woman who has had a profound influence on me is my mother. As a child, I played in the back of the room while my mom led Girl Scout meetings for my sister. Years later, she became my own troop leader, encouraging me and my fellow scouts to try new things, discover new ideas, and seek opportunities in our lives. It wasn’t until I began leading a troop for my stepdaughter that I learned my grandmother had been my mother’s troop leader.
Now, as a third-generation Girl Scout troop leader guiding a fourth-generation scout, I see how the values instilled by Juliette Gordon Low and my mother have shaped my life. They have taught me that one person can spark positive change, and I strive to do the same for the young girls I mentor. Their examples remind me that true leadership is about inspiring others to reach their fullest potential.
Both Juliette Gordon Low and my mother have shown me the impact of community, selflessness, and empowerment. Their lives serve as a testament to the transformative power of leadership, and I am inspired to continue their work by contributing to the world in a meaningful way.
“On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.”
To learn more about Juliette Gordon Low, check out these books from the OCLS collection:
- Who was Juliette Gordon Low? / Dana Meachen Rau
- Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts / Stacy A. Cordery
- First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low / Ginger Wadsworth
- Here Come the Girl Scouts! The Amazing All-true Story of Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure / Shana Corey
- Troop 6000: The Girl Scout troop that Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World / Nikita Stewart
- Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist / Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Jewels is a Youth Program Specialist at OCLS
