I first joined guiding at the age of 7 as a brownie. At the time, guiding didn’t mean very much to me as I didn’t know what it would grow into or what adventures were lying in wait.
I remember my first brownies and being terrified that I would not know anyone, however, when I got there it turned out that the half of the village were there as everyone was a brownie! I was still rather quiet and nervous as I’m quite shy around people I don’t know too well. I was like this for a few months but I soon flourished as I began to feel more confident around new people. Browinies was something that really helped me come out of my shell as a child and translated my new found confidence to other areas of my life.
Just before my 10th birthday, I knew it was nearly time to leave and move on. As much as I didn’t want to leave my brownies, I was the eldest there and was beginning to enjoy the meetings less and less as they were generally catered towards slightly younger children. Leaving was a bittersweet moment but I was excited to move on. (as it is my 16th birthday in a week and a few days, this was almost exactly 6 years ago, crazy!!)
This lead me to guides. Guides has been a very constant thing for me for six years while I have encountered so much other change. I have been there for 6 years and I can’t believe it. it feels like I started yesterday but I have done so many different things during this time.
I have made so many new friends through it and strengthen friendships that I already had. This has been so important for me I have met some people I would not have met otherwise and I’m so grateful for that.
Guides has given me so many opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I have been to so many big events exclusively for guides which have given so many different experiences. I have been on various camps where you learn new skills, face fears, gain independence, work together and have fun in the process. If you met me, you would not think this was my thing and neither did I, but it shows the variety of different people in guiding.
It has helped me so much with my anxiety and depression. It has allowed me to face fears that I never thought I would be able to. I have managed to motivate myself to go every week which is a big achievement as my anxiety has caused me to give up a lot of things. I know that I can go there and I can be myself; no pretending, no trying to be someone I’m not, no trying to impress people.
As you are meant to leave guides at 14, I know I’m too old to still be there. I have not moved onto senior section as I am supposed to because there isn’t one local to me so I have stayed at guides to become a leader. This is another thing that has helped me a lot because it has allowed me to develop more confidence as well as being able to speak to groups of people. I have also started helping at a rainbows which I have found rather beneficial to me as this has really allowed me to gain a variety of skills.
Although my anxiety did develop whilst I was involved in guiding, I am also recovering while in guiding. It’s something that I hope I can spend the rest of my life doing, wherever I end up.
I remember my first brownies and being terrified that I would not know anyone, however, when I got there it turned out that the half of the village were there as everyone was a brownie! I was still rather quiet and nervous as I’m quite shy around people I don’t know too well. I was like this for a few months but I soon flourished as I began to feel more confident around new people. Browinies was something that really helped me come out of my shell as a child and translated my new found confidence to other areas of my life.
Just before my 10th birthday, I knew it was nearly time to leave and move on. As much as I didn’t want to leave my brownies, I was the eldest there and was beginning to enjoy the meetings less and less as they were generally catered towards slightly younger children. Leaving was a bittersweet moment but I was excited to move on. (as it is my 16th birthday in a week and a few days, this was almost exactly 6 years ago, crazy!!)
This lead me to guides. Guides has been a very constant thing for me for six years while I have encountered so much other change. I have been there for 6 years and I can’t believe it. it feels like I started yesterday but I have done so many different things during this time.
I have made so many new friends through it and strengthen friendships that I already had. This has been so important for me I have met some people I would not have met otherwise and I’m so grateful for that.
Guides has given me so many opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I have been to so many big events exclusively for guides which have given so many different experiences. I have been on various camps where you learn new skills, face fears, gain independence, work together and have fun in the process. If you met me, you would not think this was my thing and neither did I, but it shows the variety of different people in guiding.
It has helped me so much with my anxiety and depression. It has allowed me to face fears that I never thought I would be able to. I have managed to motivate myself to go every week which is a big achievement as my anxiety has caused me to give up a lot of things. I know that I can go there and I can be myself; no pretending, no trying to be someone I’m not, no trying to impress people.
As you are meant to leave guides at 14, I know I’m too old to still be there. I have not moved onto senior section as I am supposed to because there isn’t one local to me so I have stayed at guides to become a leader. This is another thing that has helped me a lot because it has allowed me to develop more confidence as well as being able to speak to groups of people. I have also started helping at a rainbows which I have found rather beneficial to me as this has really allowed me to gain a variety of skills.
Although my anxiety did develop whilst I was involved in guiding, I am also recovering while in guiding. It’s something that I hope I can spend the rest of my life doing, wherever I end up.