Opinion: Girl Scouts are about more than selling cookies. It changed my life.
By: Alé Delgado
“Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting can be the magic thread which links the girls of the world together.” Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA.
As a Girl Scout lifetime member for 24 years, I have experienced this magic firsthand. The Girl Scout Movement unites girls and women across the world, fostering connections that celebrate our differences while embracing shared values. With nearly 10.8 million members in 153 countries, it is truly a global sisterhood.
Growing up in Mexico, my mother wanted to become a Girl Scout, but cultural misunderstandings and family beliefs prevented her from joining. After moving to the United States, she learned more and became my older sister’s troop leader. I watched them participate, and I eagerly awaited my turn to join.
When that day finally came at age 5, I put on my first daisy uniform with pride. As I grew up, my vests showcased badges marking my accomplishments and patches representing memories made. Each piece tells a story, a chapter of my upbringing.
At 17, I traveled to Kenya and Tanzania on a Girl Scout Destination, funded through the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program and supported by my local council, Girl Scouts San Diego. There, I worked on sustainability projects, met Kenyan Girl Scouts, and learned from the Maasai people. Wanting to share the experience with others, I documented the journey through photography — a hobby that later blossomed into a career. Today, I am a professional photographer, videographer, and editor specializing in digital media production.
As an adult, Girl Scouts continues to open doors for me to serve on a global scale. Last November, I represented Girl Scouts of the USA as a lead delegate for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Western Hemisphere Latin American gathering in Costa Rica.
The triennial event brings together member organizations from Latin America to celebrate the impact of the global Girl Scout movement. More than 100 Girl Scout adults from 13 countries in the Western Hemisphere came together to share best practices, engage in inspiring sessions, and learn from one another, all within a shared cultural value: the Spanish language.
Girl Scouting is a vast and interconnected global network that provides incredible opportunities for girls and women. This gathering allowed us to connect directly with passionate Girl Scout and girl guide leaders from around the world, united by one mission — building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Across cultures and languages, we found common threads in our stories — taking Girl Scouts camping for the first time and encouraging them to step into leadership roles.
Among the many meaningful moments, one stands out. During a storm that caused a power outage and shut down nearby roads, laughter filled the air as someone began humming a popular Mexican cumbia song. In a room full of Latinos, we always have a reason to celebrate, and so we did. The entire room joined in, singing and later sharing our favorite Girl Scout camp songs with silly gestures and dance moves.
To us, this moment captured the essence of Girl Scouts — finding joy in the unexpected, embracing community, and singing the songs that taught us how to be comfortable in shared spaces, to stand out, to speak up, and, most importantly, to be ourselves.
As the week progressed, I grew closer to my fellow Girl Scouts and to my own heritage. Sharing stories in my native language was a rare and unique experience, especially in a gathering which honored the intersection of my Mexican roots and my Girl Scout upbringing.
The Latin American gathering was life changing. It was a place where cultures united, traditions were celebrated, and the power of Girl Scouting was reaffirmed, while honoring the diversity of nations and embracing our magic thread.
I encourage any girl, especially those from our binational region, to join Girl Scouts and explore the limitless possibilities it offers. Girl Scouts has given me opportunities I once only dreamed of. I have traveled internationally, explored new cultures, and led service projects, all while making a difference in the world.
Through community, we can drive positive change — one Girl Scout at a time.
Delgado is a photographer, videographer, and editor specializing in digital media production at the University of San Diego. She lives in City Heights.
