Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Kareena Cheruvu of Williamsville, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Kareena is a member of Troop 30345.

What Kareena said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts has completely changed my life for the better. Everything I have learned from my troop leader to my fellow Girl Scouts and all the amazing people I have met on my journey have all taught me how to become a better human being not only for myself, but for my community. From walking into my elementary school cafeteria to learn the Girl Scout Promise as a timid 5 year old, to teaching hundreds of Brownies and Daisies the Girl Scout core values 12 years later, I can proudly say Girl Scouts has had a great impact on me. I have experienced so many stories and lifelong memories that I will forever cherish, but the one core idea that has been engraved in me because of Girl Scouts is to always help others. And so, on my honor, I will continue to help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Project: After School: A Deeper Dive into the Basic Knowledge Needed in Life After High School

When the pandemic hit, I thought there was no way I would still be able to go through with my Gold Award. However, I realized the impact technology can have in this day and age. I brainstormed ideas on how I could help kids in my community in a safe way.

My project addressed the issue of the lack of basic knowledge being taught at school. As much as we would like to believe our school system is perfect, it has its many flaws that do not seem likely to be addressed any time soon. School is the place where children spend most of their time during their developing years. Yet, despite it being the place known for kids to acquire most of their knowledge, they often enter adult life unprepared. This is because many important life skills are never discussed at school. There is so much to know that is not found in the curriculum but critical to adult success.

My goal for this project was to help kids feel more prepared as they enter college or adulthood by learning basic life skills. I thought the best way to reach as many kids as possible in a COVID-friendly manner was to go online. I decided to share the information I learned about adulthood on a popular social media platform: podcasts. I interviewed many people in different careers, including politics, investing, mental health, and more. Each expert speaker discussed how young adults can get involved in these important topics. I uploaded my podcast on Apple podcasts and Spotify. Since uploading my first episode, I have had 100 downloads! I hope to continue to inspire and educate my community as well as kids all around the world.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.

The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.

For more information on the Gold Award, click here.