[This post was submitted to us from Troop 20173. If you’d like to have your story featured, email communications@gswny.org]

“Repeat after me: ‘I am extraordinary!'”

“I am extraordinary!”

Girls from Girl Scout Cadette Troop 20173 came together at Daemen College recently to celebrate their uniqueness during the first ever G.I.R.L. Experience Conference there.

They listened to keynote speakers, all strong women who are masters in their respective fields, talk about how they overcame obstacles to follow their path. The women represented Girl Scouts’ G.I.R.L. traits: Go-getter, Risk-taker, Innovator, and Leader.

Desiree paid special attention to Holly Hubert, FBI cyber crimes unit expert and CEO of Global Security IQ. Eleven-year-old Desiree has dreamed of being an FBI agent herself.

“Venus was my favorite. She was so funny,” said Lilly. Venus Quates, founder and CEO of Launch Tech and GSWNY board member told the girls how she took her “weirdness” and embraced it, eventually becoming the first woman of color to own a tech company in Western New York. Her humor won over the girls, allowing her message to resonate.

“I loved the aerialists.  I could’ve watched them all day,” Grace said. Members of Aerial Arts of Rochester, a circus school owned by Jennifer D’Ovidio who was one of the speakers, performed in the Hall of Experiences for the girls.

In addition,  the girls met Alison Wilcox,  CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York. She gave them each a CEO patch to mark the occasion and talked about growing up in a remote area of Canada with a houseful of siblings.

Other experiences at the event included a taste of self defense,  practicing plate-spinning, climbing a rock wall outside on a very cold day, various arts and crafts, and many other activities.

The inspiring event was a good prelude to G.I.R.L. 2020, the national Girl Scout convention. The three-day-event will be held in Orlando,  FL, and Troop 20173 has plans to attend. After bridging over the Golden Gate Bridge in April 2019, the girls are eager for their next adventure.