Loyalty is the new beginning

“There’s always a room for change. Every one of us can start for a new beginning.”

I don’t know how it feels like being a Girl Scout because I didn’t experience being one in my younger years. 

Nowadays, when you ask girls and young women if they experienced Girl Scouting, they would say “Yes!” without any hesitation. Regrets crept into my mind realizing that Girl Scouting is a wonderful experience for the girls and young women, something which I was not able to experience when I was younger.

Until now, I ask myself why I turned down the idea of joining the GSP then. What I remember is that I was not sure of my answer whether to join it or not. In short, I doubted myself and even my decision in saying “No”. Even my parents wanted me to join the GSP but I would always end up saying “I don’t want to join.” As my elementary school days went by, no one changed my decision about that. Now that I am a grown up, I always feel envious of those girls who experienced Girl Scouting.

Today, many firsts are happening to me as I became a student-trainee at the GSP National Headquarters. I signed up as an Associate Girl Scout member for the first time! Another is reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Law for the first time in my life during the National Staff Awards last January 29. I don’t know why, but it gave me goose bumps. While reciting the Girl Scout Law, I realized that Girl Scouting is something special. Honestly, the event changed me! Now I wanted to become loyal to myself, to my loved ones, and to my country.

Having regrets is one of the most difficult things that could ever happen to someone. But on this new journey in my life, who would have thought that the girl who didn’t experience Girl Scouting in her elementary and high school days can still become an Associate Member of GSP. I can throw away that regret because the opportunity to be a Girl Scout is within my reach!

I am so grateful and honored to be a part of the Movement. “A Girl Scout is loyal” and I am proud to be a loyal Girl Scout now!

This is proof that I am now an Associate Member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

- Jenelyn R. Matamis, GSP, Communications Division Intern