Life as a Girl Scout ♥

Photo by: Hazel Marie Barcela

It's October, and scouts know that October is in fact Scouting Month! Hurrah! :)

So yes, throughout my four years in high school, I was a girl scout. It's hard to imagine that this year was the first that I hadn't celebrated. Although being crammed up with schoolwork and the tension about getting my grades, I didn't notice how fast October has went by.


This would actually a narration on how my girl scout dream came to be. This is kinda long and boring. But if you have nothing to do then might as well read it! :)

I became a girl scout as soon as I entered Science High (Cebu City) because my old school (CIC-Cebu) didn't offer any clubs or organizations in Scouting. Although I was a girl scout when I was a first grader. I had my mind made up ever since I was elementary and my sister was in high school. She ended up being one of the Senior Planning Board and taught me some things to know about being a girl scout. What I remember the most was a song called "All Night, All Day." She taught me to sing that every time I had nightmares or if I just couldn't sleep. The song goes:

All Night, All Day.

Angels watching over me, my Lord.

All Night, All Day.

Angels watching over me.

Now I lay me down to sleep.

Angels watching over me, my Lord.

Pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Angels watching over me.

Photo by: Reine Chiara Concha

So moving on, I became a girlscout. Here's the only photo of me as a 1st year scout. Maybe because, I wasn't super into the organization, or in any organization thereof. It was my first year there, and the comments I had about the school I was going to was that it was going to be pretty hard. I can't deal with pretty hard! I've gone through my elementary days not studying for tests, and maybe just flipping pages when major exams are going on. So I really had to adjust to the standards of my new school.

Any hows, I still tried my best to join Girl Scout activities. During my first year, I was able to attend my first ever investiture (photo above) as a Senior Scout. And yes, I am the girl with the tangerine scarf, or apparently, the only one with an unedited uniform in the photo above! My first year wasn't so great. I haven't been out to any camping activity because I didn't have anyone in my class to join it too. I know, I AM SO LAME. But I was still young and I couldn't imagine myself blending with everyone else having no sure friend to go to.

Photo by: Winlove Navarro

Second year came along and I promised myself, since I've done well or maybe even good during my first year, it's time to mix it up with co-curricular! Starting with my first love, girl scouting ♥

Lucky was I to have been classmates with this gal on the left (here's her profile). She has been an active girl scout ever since elementary! I've learned a lot of things from her. And if it wasn't for her, I would've even entered third year with no girl scout experiences whatsoever.

Photo by: Cleo Gomez

I've joined more formations back then compared to my first year self, and I've also worn my uniform more often! Not to mention, I've joined my first ever camping! I've earned myself a couple of badges (although I did earn some during my first year as a scout), but at this rate my badge sash was half full! Although some scouts already had their sash full of colorful and different badges, I was one proud gal to have gotten just those 13 (if I'm not mistaken) because getting even just one badge, took several tasks to complete just refer to the handbook!

Photo by: Aidyl Belangue

Third year was my year. I had to prove myself I was worthy to be in the position I was vying for. I've joined ALL the campings that were in that year. I missed only about 5 formations the whole year. I passed all the needed requirements like drawing book scrapbooks and stuff. I even joined the Search for Model Senior Scout of Cebu City, not to mention my lack of badges. I mean seriously, people with like back to back badges on their sashes might get a chance of being a model scout, BUT ONE WITH 13? Although I did get to be a Model Scout, but we'll talk more on that later.

So yes, during the whole school year, or maybe until February, I imagined myself to be an External Vice-Chairman. Since, my ideal cadet "ate", was in that position. I would choose the chairman itself but I knew that the stress she had was pretty tough, and I just couldn't imagine myself in her shoes. Plus, I was part of the Supreme Student Government, I just couldn't juggle it all. I'm no superwoman.

But on one specific formation, I'm not sure of the day, but then the cadets asked us to close our eyes and asked us of the position we were vying for. And obviously, the first one they asked was "Chairman". Two hands shoot up in the air, I didn't know who these were but they announced it. They repeated and repeated the word just so someone else would raise their hand. And at that moment, I had no idea why but I had the urge to raise my hand along with them.

WHAT WAS I THINKING? But I could not back down now. So I went through it! Hihihi. I wouldn't elaborate what went on with the training because it wouldn't be any fun now if future scouts of Science High would be reading this and they knew what they are going to expect. So yeah here's a random photo with me at the right most. Beside me are my friends winlove, the one I told you about when I was in second year, and Kathleen, one of my closest friends in the scouting world.

Moving on, our positions were to be decided by the troop three, the SPB and most importantly, our very eccentric district field adviser, Mrs. Ida Yting! All throughout the summer, while waiting for our positions, my co-girlscouts were also vying for me as chairman. When there were activities overhead, they'd text or chat with me using the word 'chairman' to address me. I don't know if they were trying to comfort me, or if they were mocking me or what. But what I thought of it was that they believed in me. And when I'd try to stop them into taunting me in becoming chairman, they would tell me, "Czar, obvious na kaayo [it's so obvious!]"

One random day, as I walked through Ayala. My mom and I passed through St. Paul's, a store that sells religious items. Looking around, I saw this adorable little necklace. It said that you just insert your wish inside (it was a locket) and if you believed in God and that He can make your wish come true, it would. So I wore it for the whole summer. (See necklace in the photo).

On revelation day, because I feel this is a bit dragging. We did something to know our positions. In the end, I got the first position I wanted. External Vice-Chairman. I thought of it as God's way of saying, "I'm giving you this because you could not handle being in charge." I accepted the position and promised myself that if I wasn't fit to be Chairman, then I should be the best in what I was given. 

I worked hard in both organization since I technically was still in SSG, although I did not attend any meetings yet. The moment I came into the SSG office with its' new adviser, Mrs. Janice Lepetin, I was given with a task at hand, and I wasn't even interviewed it I was fit to be in the position I was in as Secretary for Special Projects. I don't even know what I was going to do, but what could I lose! I'm going for it! So yes, I was trapped between my SSG and GSP carreers. As seen in the bottom photo, my SSG family with me in a girl scout uniform.

Photo by: Needs & Solutions

I didn't even bother that I was serving two masters. I had fun being in both SSG and GSP. Although during mid-August, I was met by shocking news. My girl scout adviser suddenly announced me as the new chairman of the organization. Talk about stress! Maybe it was because I was with good terms with the administration. But that was really one hell of a news.

I did my best in all that I did because the last chairman was also in both organizations, not to mention the Debate Team. So she had a pretty hectic schedule that sort-of given her life a pretty good roller coaster loop! I wanted to prove to myself that I could manage my time wisely, and as I look back on what happened to my fourth year life juggling academics, girl scout, student government, social life and sleep, I might have loss sleep, but it was worth it all!

Oh, and did I mention that I was finally a part of the Model Girl Scouts? Yes. I have finally entered a competition and won it! It was pretty hard to get in because you had to prove that you were more deserving than the 10 other girls in the competition. My 13 badges? They became around 30+! Not to mention the Cadet Badges (that are octagon) and a new patch from the Regional Camping that filled up the back of my sash! Since someone asked me, "[non-verbatim] Ngano ikaw diay chairman nga di man back-to-back imung badges? [why are you the chairman when your badges aren't back to back?]" Now I can face them proud with my sash full of badges!

Photo by: Keith de Leon

Girl Scouting has been one awesome adventure. If somehow we went back to freshman year and I had the freedom to choose an organization, I would still pick the same organizations and be with the same people who believed in me and in themselves.

Now that I only look back to the formations and campings, how I wished I wasn't too shy to enter all those camping trips that were available. I wish I wasn't too close minded about how campings were scary. But then I enjoyed the ride. I enjoyed having to tackle a bumpy road, prepare presentations, run to teachers for their signatures on the letters, having to sign 200 certificates four times because of reprints.

Girl Scouting wasn't only about the badges that hanged on my sash. Girl scouting was about being friends with someone you never imagined being friends with. Girl scouting was not just about being soaked in the rain, but having no complaints whatsoever. Girl scouting was not just about lighting a fire, but about lighting a desire to change the world. Girl scouting wasn't just about having to go on campings, but to leave them with learning and the fulfillment of a good day's work. Girl scouting wasn't just all about the formations, but the bonds we all share. Girl scouting wasn't just about wearing a cute cadet uniform or a comfy senior scout uniform, it was upholding the values that the uniform implied.

And to all those beings who look down on us.

Yes, we might not scream on top of our lungs once we march. Yes, we might not want to sit on the ground wearing our uniform because technically we can't. Yes, we might seem slow to you. Yes, we take a 5-minute break to tie our hair and wear our scarf properly. Yes, we might not be your type of "gahi". Yes, we might not be able to carry flags or swords or guns or whatnots.

But we might also be the spark of change. We might be the movement that gives equal right to men and women. We might be the ones to take a stand. We might be the same girls that change the world.

Because girl scout isn't only about looks, it's about character and sisterhood.

Happy Scouting Month! ♥