-I love guiding because, for an hour to an hour and a half a week, I can be myself. There are no guys around that mean other girls start showing off. It is a time where I can just be me.
-Being a leader, I am able to see young girls lives change. I am involved in Rainbows (for 4-7 year olds) so the girls I work with change massively in their time with us. They come in timid and know very little, but leave more confident and more aware of themselves and the world around them.
-I have had experiences I never would have had if I wasn't involved in Guiding. Three years ago, in 2012, I went to Finland with Girlguiding Ulster. Here I met some amazing people from lots of different countries and learnt things about other peoples culture. But I also learned lots about myself. At the time I went, I was 16, one of only 5 girls selected from Ulster to go, did not know the other four girls or the leader who came with us, in a country I knew very little about and had no contact home. For most people this would be very daunting but I saw it as an adventure. It was one of the best nine days of my life! I learnt that I love to be a leader, and have some impressive leadership skills (even if I do say so myself). We were doing a community action project one of the days. I had an idea that would make our group more effective and was able to get this set up even though there was people who did not speak English in the team and I was the youngest member of the team.
-I have achieved many things that make me so proud of myself. I have been Senior Section of the Year in my unit three times, which is amazing. They even brought back Brownie of the Year for me! I have completed Look Wider, which is the main Senior Section programme. It took me nearly four years to achieve this, doing a variety of things. I have got my Chief's Guide Award, the second highest award in Girlguiding UK. Through Guides, I have received awards from other organisations. I have completed my bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and am hoping to do my gold when I feel more up to it. These have taken a great deal of time and dedication. There was some really tough moments during the expeditions of these but the sense of achievement felt at the end is second to none. It was all worth it in the end. I have also achieved my 200 hours Millennium Volunteers Award, which is an initiative by Volunteer Now (in NI only) which encourages young people (14-25) to volunteer their time. This gives recognition that universities and companies respect.
-It challenges me. I hate speaking in front of groups of more than 5 people (ie it is an anxiety trigger). Today at the church service, I read a prayer in front of everyone in the church and I felt fine. I have done this many of times, talking to the whole Rainbow unit to introduce the theme of that meeting, talking to Brownies about International Opportunities (after my trip to Finland) and speaking in front of the parents of all Rainbows, Brownies and Guides at our annual parents night. The past two years, at our parents night, I have performed a dance routine with my best friend. I would never think of doing this anywhere other than with my guiding family. Last year, something went wrong in the routine, but instead of worrying about it and making it bad, we made it funny. It's now a running joke within our unit, started by me!!
-It has increased my confidence. I have two "me's". I have "normal Nicola", that is quiet and isn't confident in doing anything, and I have "guide Nicola" who is the complete opposite. "Guide Nicola" has went to Edinburgh, as one of TWO from all of Northern Ireland, to INTOPS and wasn't phased. Without "Guide Nicola", I would never have went for my Peer Educator basic training, or done any of the sessions I have done. I instantly feel more confident when I am in Guides. I am able to hold my head high and I feel like I genuinely belong there, whether I have known the people for ten minutes or ten years!
-I have met some of the most amazing people through Guiding. Some of my most valued and trusted friends, I have met through Guiding. My guide leader was the first person I told when I started to feel ill last year. My best friend is in guides and I think it has made our friendship even stronger as we have that bond. I know if I ever need anything, all I have to do is look to my Guide family and I will have all the help I need and more.
Nicola x