was a Girl Scout for 10 years, from the time I was five years old until I was 15 years old. The countless wonderful experiences that I had the pleasure of taking part in have been crucial in shaping me into who I am today and will remain in my heart for years to come. I was able to take away so many important lessons from being a Girl Scout, here are just a few of the most important.

1. To Care For My Community

It seems as though volunteerism and kindness for kindness' sake is becoming a less common practice these days. Being a Girl Scout taught me from a young age that it is up to me to do all I can to help better my community, and most importantly to do it for the right reasons. From cleaning cages at the SPCA, to singing Christmas carols to folks in nursing homes, to donating our time and resources to local food pantries, there truly is no better feeling than giving back with no expectation of anything in return. Girl Scouts taught me how rewarding it is to contribute to my community's improvement.

2. To Work Alongside My Peers

So many of the lessons I learned in Girl Scouts have followed me through life, one of the most important being teamwork. Working with my fellow scouts to finish a task or win a relay race has granted me the ability to function harmoniously within a team. From group projects at school to collaborating with co-workers, working hand-in-hand with those around me to problem solve is a skill that will continue to guide me in various aspects of my life.

3. Perseverance

There were multiple times that being a Girl Scout taught me that I can accomplish anything in the world if I work hard and set my mind to it. While that probably sounds cliche, it is so important to hear as a young girl.

4. Self-Confidence

This goes hand-in-hand with the last lesson, but is so substantial that I had to elaborate. Every activity we partook in, every badge we earned, reminded us that we were intelligent, capable young girls. Bettering our community while bettering ourselves in the process was one of the most empowering experiences of my youth.

5. Citizenship

Being a Girl Scout taught me how to be an upright citizen, a patriot, and an example of dignity and altruism to the entire community. It taught me that it costs nothing to be a genuine, caring person and that in the long run I would love myself more for doing so. The morals and values that were instilled upon me early on are irreplaceable.

6. Respect For Others

I not only learned how important it was to have respect for myself, but also for my peers and higher-ups. Showing everybody a certain level of courtesy was one of the first lessons we were taught as Girl Scouts, and it remains one of the most valuable. Being polite and complaisant is another lesson I can thank being a Girl Scout for.

7. A Close Bond With My Fellow Girl Scouts

One of the most important lessons I took away from being a Girl Scout is how to be a true friend. Some of my closest friends to this day were in Girl Scouts with me and I couldn't imagine my life without them. There's such a comfort in knowing that I have life-long friends to turn to always, no matter how far away we might be from each other or how long it's been since we last spoke. There is no greater gift in this world than true friendship.

"I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout." -The Girl Scout Law