Josephine Smyser '23: Bloom Where you are Planted

I’ve been a Girl Scout since the first grade. My troop focused on the basics such as learning to camp, build fires, and canoe. Of course, we sell cookies too! That has helped me learn about relationships and business skills. I’m lucky to have had generous women who stepped up to guide our troop and serve as leaders and role models for us.

I think there are a lot of similarities between being a Girl Scout and attending Beaumont. Both are girl-powered and supportive of me and my dreams. President Hoke encourages Beaumont students to be brave and Girl Scouts gives me the opportunity to put those words into action and try new things. Because of Girl Scouts, I came to Beaumont knowing that a group of girls can do great things when we are united in vision and spirit. I think that is why it’s been so easy for me to embrace my Beaumont sisters and charge ahead with making our world a better place.

The opportunity to pursue service projects have presented challenges that have opened me to new experiences. My troop developed new skills researching and creating a survey and video about body image and teenagers. My Beaumont sisters helped us when almost 100 of them participated in our research. We could not have done it without them. Last summer, I earned my Girl Scout Silver Award by working with four other scouts to make a whole new trail at the Mentor Marsh. The first step of this process was working with our advisor, a naturalist from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, who educated us on the land’s history, the different plants in the marsh, and most importantly, the value of native plants and why we must conserve them. We designed the trail and removed the invasive plants, making space for native plants to grow. We will plant native plants using grant money we were awarded from the local chapter of the Native Plants Society of America. Through all the physical and emotional labor, my Silver Award project ignited a love of plants, especially the native ones. My overall goal for the trail was to educate people about the beauty of native plants and in the process, I learned to appreciate them myself.

Service is the thing that unites my work at Beaumont and my activities as a scout. The Mentor Marsh project connects with other volunteer work I’ve been doing for four years with the Lake Metroparks where I work with children who were learning the skills of being a naturalist. I guess that was the first volunteer work I did when I realized how fun it is to share the simple joy and beauty found in the natural world with other people. At Beaumont, I have been touched by the life of Sister Dorothy Kazel and inspired by her example. Because of her, I know that my life will have a deeper meaning if I am of service to others. Beaumont and Girl Scouts have taught me that service is not a chore. Service is an opportunity to create, bring joy, and make a difference.

Original Article: https://www.beaumontschool.org/news/2021/04/15/beaumont-news-winterspring-2021-frontline-heroes-living-dynamic-adaptability