To the editor:

When people learn that I am a Girl Scout, they immediately think of cookies, camping and crafts. But having spent the last 10 years a Girl Scout, I can tell you there is so much more to the experience.

I have met some of my best friends in Girl Scouts, and we laughed and played together just as much as we got down to business to make a difference in the world, one Take Action project at a time.

One of my favorite memories is going to the Outer Banks and riding horses on the beach.
As a Girl Scout, I had so many opportunities to challenge myself in new ways, to develop confidence to take the lead and to learn from setbacks.

One way this has happened was on the ropes course during camp. I had to overcome any fear I felt on the obstacles and work with my team to solve challenges. This helped build my teamwork skills and ability to learn from mistakes — and believe me, we had our fair share of those!
Girl Scouts has shown me my inner go-getter, innovator, risk-taker and leader, and I think every girl should be a Girl Scout.

Jacquelyn Hendricks

Suffolk