Gold Award Girl Scout Spotlight: Alexa T
As she helped her grandparents at their “bodega,” Alexa frequently heard the concerns of their immigrant patrons on helping their children establish new roots in this country. The initiative, “Hopeful Beginnings,” came about to serve this population of students in their desire to acclimate and excel as successful members of our society. The Spanish Club at her school, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, will provide copies of the book as needed and maintain the YouTube channel Alexa created in the future. Alexa will be attending the University of Florida, majoring in Finance.
What College do you plan to attend? Have you decided on a major?
I will attend the University of Florida to major in Finance.
Other than the Girl Scout Gold Award, what other awards have you earned?
I have earned the 2024 Silver Night honorable mention.
What is the title of your Gold Award project?
A Hopeful Beginning
Tell us more about your project and how you completed it.
While helping my grandparents at their bodega, I frequently heard the concerns of immigrant patrons about helping their children establish new roots in this country. Inspired by these conversations, I created the initiative, “Hopeful Beginnings,” aimed at assisting immigrant students in acclimating and excelling in society. The project includes a bilingual children’s book, “A Hopeful Beginning,” which provides school-aged children with insights into life in Florida. Additionally, the Hopeful Beginnings YouTube channel features grade-specific videos called “Beginnings for Success” to guide high school students through college preparation, including writing resumes, requesting recommendation letters, and accessing free resources. The Spanish club at my school will continue to provide copies of the book and maintain the YouTube channel.
Why is this project important to you? What gave you the inspiration to approach this topic the way that you did?
This project was important to me because giving the ability to help children become successful members of their society is something that is particularly important to me. I was inspired while helping my grandparents in their bodega and hearing concerns of their immigrant parents establishing roots in the USA.
What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced with my "Hopeful Beginnings" initiative was the process of creating and publishing a bilingual children’s book. Translating the content to ensure it was accurate and culturally sensitive was a significant task. I overcame this by seeking assistance from bilingual educators and community members who provided valuable feedback. Another challenge was producing the grade-specific videos for the YouTube channel. I had to learn video editing and ensure the content was both informative and engaging. I tackled this by taking online courses in video production and collaborating with tech-savvy friends.
How does this project contribute to your future goals?
This project has greatly contributed to my future goals by enhancing my leadership, project management, and communication skills. Working on "Hopeful Beginnings" has solidified my passion for helping others and confirmed my desire to pursue a career in finance, where I hope to support community-based initiatives. Additionally, the project has given me practical experience in creating educational content and managing a team, which will be invaluable in my future career and personal endeavors.
What did you learn about yourself while completing your project?
In completing this project, I learned that I have a strong passion for teaching and helping others. I discovered that I can effectively lead a project from conception to execution, overcoming obstacles along the way. This experience also taught me that with determination and the right support, I can achieve ambitious goals. It was incredibly rewarding to see the impact of my work on the children and families in my community.
What did you learn about your community while completing your project?
I learned that my community is incredibly supportive and eager to embrace new opportunities for growth and education. The enthusiastic response to the "Hopeful Beginnings" initiative showed me how much immigrant families value education and resources that can help their children succeed. This project revealed the community's resilience and their willingness to support initiatives that address their needs and aspirations.
