After Make a Difference Day, Girl Scout offers insights into community contribution

National Make A Difference Day happens on Oct. 24. It originally became a national holiday in 1992. USA weekend magazine partnered with Points of Light, a non profit organization that helps encourage people to volunteer. It was designed to help bring communities together and help the community out.

Angie Webb,  a teacher at Central Middle School and a troop leader of Junior Girl Scouts said she did not know about National Make D Difference Day, “but I love that!”

She helps the Girl Scouts impact the community in many ways. “Girls learn so many positive things from Girl Scouts. They learn how to collaborate with others and how to serve. They learn to use their voice to inspire change. They become problem solvers and good citizens.”

Positive ways Girl Scouts make a difference in the community that affect other people include service projects, community service and learning to be team sports.

Teachers impact the community too, Webb said. “Teachers have so much influence. Students are watching all the time. How you handle conflict, how you speak to others, how you handle mistakes. It goes so far beyond the curriculum. Teachers have the power to make students feel valued and help them believe their actions make a difference.”

She said positive ways teachers impact the community are teaching kids how to recognize and understand their feelings and who they are. 

Webb said she knew that she wanted to work with Girl Scouts from other early experiences. “I babysat and worked in daycares from a young age. I realized that I enjoyed working with kids and that I can have a positive effect on who they become. I love seeing students learn and getting to know the things they enjoy. They teach me a ton too.”

Webb said making a difference requires getting involved in the community. “Taking care of the whole student. Need a winter jacket? We’ve got you. Lost a tooth? Let me get my treasure box. Glasses need washed? I’ve got a wipe for that. Whole child every day.”

Webb said a favorite story about a student of hers helping out in the community was “My seventh graders are working with the city of Waterloo on adding in sidewalks, safety signs and expanding the shoulder to make safer routes for getting to school. They are truly making a huge difference that will make the route safer for others.”

Webb said her favorite thing about working as a teacher and being a group leader is, “I love to see the influence I’ve had over the years. Seeing former students or Girl Scouts and hearing who they’ve become is the best compliment we could ever get.”