In many ways, Candice Johnson is a typical 16-year old girl - she’s excited about going to prom, she loves hanging out with her friends, and she is starting to make plans for college.   But spend just a few minutes talking with this effervescent, wise-beyond-her-years young woman, and you’ll find yourself marveling at how someone can be so mature and aware at such a young age.  Maybe it’s because her mother, Candy, taught her to always be productive and give back, or maybe it’s just her inherent interest in the world around her.  Or, is it because she’s been in Girl Scouts since she was five years old?  The answer is ‘all of the above.’

Candice, who because of her mother’s military career experienced living in Texas, Hawaii, Georgia and Korea, is always ready for a new adventure. “I’m not scared to try new things...I feel like it makes me a more diverse person,” she beams.   Likewise, her mother was determined to give her the opportunity to try as many things as she wanted. “When I was growing up, I never had time for any activities, so I wanted my child to be well-rounded,” says Candy.  So from acrobatics to swimming and everything in between, through her experiences, Candice has become just that.

And while moving around also provided unique opportunities for Candice to learn about and appreciate different cultures, it presented a challenge to maintaining friendships.  Luckily, Candy had enrolled her in Girl Scouts as a Daisy at age five; and eleven years later it is the thread that has kept her connected to lifelong friends. “I just feel like, if I didn’t have Scouting, we wouldn’t have stayed in touch,” says Candice.

In the years since she began Scouting, her accomplishments include extensive travel throughout Northeast Asia, attending the National Student Leadership Conference, being accepted to The Masters School in Westchester, NY and attending the Girl Scout Leadership Institution and the Girl Scout National Convention, to name only a few.  When she’s not traveling or trying out new activities, Candice stays busy volunteering for youth or working as a Program Aide, assisting with events such as Relay for Life and leading tours for her home council, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia in Savannah.

Candice, who will attend Savannah Arts Academy in the fall with a concentration in dance, has a message for anyone considering Girl Scouts: “Go for it!”  And Candy couldn’t agree more, “Girl Scouts has really opened a lot of doors…and this council has wonderful employees who where there when I couldn’t be,” she says.  Whether starting out as a Daisy, as Candice did, or joining as an adult volunteer, as her mother did, there is no question that Girl Scouts makes a difference.  “When you volunteer your time, your child sees that you’re serving your community and that’s a great way for a mother or father to bond with their child,” says Candy.

Girl Scouts, founded in Savannah in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, is an organization devoted solely to girls; with a pledge to develop skills and qualities to serve them throughout life, such as leadership, ethics, self-confidence and social responsibility.  If ever there were a testament to this, it is Candice.  She is a promise kept and a gift to all who know her and who will come to know her – scout’s honor.

United Way of the Coastal Empire is proud to support the Traditional Troop program at Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.  For more information about the program call 912.236.1571.