Spring 2020 Inspire Discovery

From Green to Gold—Q&A with 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout Every year, Girl Scouts of the USA selects 10 inspiring Gold Award Girl Scouts, nominated by the 111 Girl Scout Councils nationwide, as National Gold Award Girl Scouts. This honor is given to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue. One eastern Missouri Girl Scout was recognized in 2019 as a National Gold Award Girl Scout—congratulations, Lauren Vanlandingham! Driven by a diagnosis that affected her family among millions of others around the world, Lauren addressed the mental and emotional health of cancer patients and their caregivers. She initiated a letter-writing campaign delivering thousands of messages to patients, survivors and family members. To increase her reach, Lauren developed an interactive website where people can write or request a letter.

Determined to ensure the longevity of her message, she then authored and distributed a book, Stories of Hope: Be the Light , which includes 10 individuals’ stories and advice to those looking to inspire a loved one with cancer. Lauren’s book is available for purchase on Amazon—she uses the proceeds to print and donate copies to doctor’s offices and oncology centers across the nation. Lauren, now a Girl Scout alum and freshman at Ole Miss, took the time to answer some questions about her passions, favorite Girl Scout experience and Gold Award project.

GSEM: What advice would you give to those in the beginning stages of earning a higher award?

LV: I think many girls that are going for the Bronze, Silver and even the Gold Award look at them like it’s some big project! But we often forget that these big projects consist of smaller projects and those smaller projects are very manageable and fun. Just plan it out!

GSEM: G.I.R.L. stands for go-getter, innovator, risk- taker and leader, is there one letter you associate with more? LV: Go-getter! I’ve always been excited to try new things but to work hard! I think that really encompasses what a go-getter stands for!

GSEM: What’s your earliest, favorite Girl Scout memory?

LV: I can remember this one so vividly. I want to go into the business side of medicine and Girl Scouts helped me find this passion through the Girl Scout Cookie Program®. One year we were organizing a booth and it was around Mardi Gras, so I used the cookie packages that were yellow, purple and green to advertise. I think I was in second or third grade!

Read the entire interview with 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout, Lauren by visiting blog.girlscoutsem.org

31

girlscoutsem.org 31 Inspire Discovery Spring 2020