Ep 139 Raising Awareness: Haley's Gold Award Project on Distracted Walking

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ 

We had the pleasure of speaking with Haley about her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project. Haley's project focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted walking, particularly in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She observed that many people, especially younger generations, are often engrossed in their phones while walking, which poses significant safety risks.

Haley shared how her project was inspired by the lack of attention given to pedestrian safety compared to the numerous campaigns on distracted driving. She created a website, brochure, and a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to educate students, particularly those in driving schools, about the importance of staying aware of their surroundings while walking.

Haley's project was a collaborative effort, involving her mother, a video creator who served as her Gold Award advisor, and representatives from the Houston Police Department and Metro Rail. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Haley successfully completed her project with the support of her team.

We also discussed the roles of a project advisor and a council mentor, and how Haley's advisor, with her video editing skills, significantly strengthened the project. Haley emphasized the importance of choosing a project advisor who can fill in the gaps in your skill set and provide valuable guidance.

Haley reflected on the challenges she faced, including balancing her project with her senior year of high school and overcoming doubts about the project's importance. She shared her favorite memory of the project, which was the collaborative and fun process of editing the PSA video.

In addition to her Gold Award project, Haley talked about her long-standing involvement with Girl Scouts, her experiences with volunteering, and a memorable destination trip to Los Angeles where she learned about filmmaking. She highlighted the importance of choosing a project that you are passionate about and the fulfillment that comes from making a positive impact on the community.

Haley is currently a senior in college, pursuing a degree in computer science with a focus on data analytics. She plans to continue her involvement in volunteer and charity work while exploring her creative interests.

To wrap up the episode, Haley shared her unique way of making s'mores, preferring a lightly toasted marshmallow with a honey graham cracker and a Hershey's bar.
Thank you for joining us today, and be sure to follow or subscribe to stay updated on new episodes. If you have a Gold Award story to share, reach out to us at growandshareatoutlook.com. Catch up on previous episodes on your favorite podcast platforms or watch the full video versions on YouTube.

More About Hailey:

Hi! My name is Hailey, and I'm a proud Girl Scouts of San Jacinto County alum. I've been a Girl Scout from 2009 to 2022, and I've been awarded the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award. I've also been awarded the Senior and Cadette Journey Summit Award, and the Silver & Gold Torch Award. I'm currently in my senior year of college studying Computer Science at the University of Houston Clear Lake, and I plan on graduating this December 2024.

Website Link: https://www.petextriansafety.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haileyrthomas01

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Haley's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on raising awareness about distracted walking, especially among younger generations.

2. Haley emphasized the importance of finding a project advisor who complements your skills and fills in your weak points to make the project stronger.

3. Haley shared her future plans of pursuing a degree in computer science and working in data analytics, while also expressing a desire to continue volunteering and charity work.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter's YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ