What did you do for your Gold Award project?

For my Gold Award project, I volunteered at Children’s Hospital Central in music therapy. This involved playing songs for the patients as well as, in some cases, teaching them how to play a few simple songs on the keyboard. My goal for this project was to make patients not feel hopeless, and to make sure that they knew that they were not alone. I understand this feeling because of my experience with being in the hospital a lot.

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

I measured the impact my Gold Award made on my target audience by getting positive feedback from the patients, the parents/families of the patients, and from the staff as well. I really hoped to make such a big impact on the community because Music Therapy is a creative and relaxing outlet for people to use when going through medical issues.

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

My project will be sustained because the materials that I used (the keyboard, and the sheet music, online music, and my music therapy guide) will still be remaining at the hospital so that other volunteers can use this when seeing patients. I am currently working on getting my project to other hospitals as well, for patients and volunteers to use. I created the guide, and the volunteer services coordinator is going to have it available. It is important to me that my guide is going to be available for other volunteers, patients, and staff to use. Lastly, I plan to give my guide to my piano teacher to encourage others to volunteer.

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

My patient’s global and/or national connection is getting my Music Therapy Guide to other hospitals, so that I can spread my message of Music Therapy and how it helps patients and people to cope with their medical issues. I will try to get my guide to the campus in Denver. I will also be creating another page for nursing homes.

What did you learn about yourself?

While working on my Gold Award project I developed better people skills, as well as self-confidence and self-esteem, and I learned how to be more intelligent in the things that I do. Although I do have medical issues, I learned that other people may have it worse than I do. I learned not to take anything for granted, and not to complain about my life.

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

I think that earning my Gold Award will positively impact me in the future. I think that earning my Gold Award will open many doors for me. I think that I will have some special opportunities when I grow up. I am extremely grateful and proud to have gone so far in Girl Scouts, and to have achieved the highest award. I feel like I can do anything that I want to do, to better myself and my family.

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

I believe that earning my Gold Award was an important part of my experience because it teaches you so many things in life. By helping out with the community. Helping out with the community teaches you responsibility, and you learn things about yourself that you never knew. I think that it is also important because by earning this Gold Award, it shows that you are growing into an adult, and that you are capable of doing anything that you set your mind to.

**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