Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Ayisha Solis of La Junta in the Pueblo and Southeastern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.
GSCO asked Ayisha to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.
Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?
I was a Girl Scout and I really wanted my daughter to experience what I had at her age, but there wasn’t a troop for her age group, so I started one.
Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.
I am troop leader for Troop 37153, as well as our troop cookie manager and fall product program manager.
What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?
Patience. I have three children of my own and had some degree of patience. Because of the things that our troop has done in our small town and through word of mouth, our troop has more than doubled in a very short time. I am blessed to be able to have so many girls and families, but you definitely have to reinvent yourself, so that you can be the best leader you can be. Patience was an area where I definitely had to step up my game and I’ve been able to carry this with me outside of Girl Scouts.
What do you hope girls have learned from you?
You can do or be anything as long as you work hard to get there. This was one of the most important things I learned as a Girl Scout and I think it is super important to learn as a child. Society has this cookie cutter image of how a girl should act, talk, and look. While times are advancing, some things aren’t so out of the ordinary anymore. But, these girls shouldn’t even have to think about what is acceptable for society. They need to be thinking about what they are passionate about, who they want to be, and go out and do it!
How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?
My girls have so many personalities and there is no stopping them. In order to help then to grow, I am constantly looking for new ways, along with my co-leader, to make their experience the best it can be. I have been able to build relationships in the community and feel as if I have a stronger presence and sense of leadership in all roles I play; mom, employee, supervisor, friend, etc. We have definitely grown as a troop and it is exciting that we all get to learn together in different ways. We all bring something to the table and my adult experience in Girl Scouts has been just as rewarding as it was when I was a child, just a little different.
Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org.