Girl Scout Troop members graduate after 10 years

BY Amanda Martilla

Nine girls who entered Girl Scout Troop 1077 as first and second graders 10 years ago, held their culminating graduation banquet Sunday and bid farewell to the organization they have cherished and embraced.

The troop has been led by DJ Potter since 2010, when she just wanted to provide a troop for her daughter Cassidy. Little did she know it would blossom into a tight-knit group of girls who would earn awards and perform service projects beyond their wildest imaginations.

The banquet on Sunday recognized the nine graduating seniors and celebrated their completion of Girl Scouts. The ceremony was held in the Potter family’s backyard which had been set up with tables, chairs, a photo booth and a projector for slideshow viewing. The decorations included keepsakes from their early years of scouting as well as a banner for each senior.

DJ founded the troop with the intent of giving her daughter, who had been a Juliette (an independent Girl Scout) for two years, some companions with whom she could learn and volunteer.

“But now I feel like a godmother or aunt to each of my girls,” she said. “I have watched them grow up over the past 10 years.”

The parents and the girls at the banquet commented how DJ has worked hard through all the years of the troop’s existence and has served as a role model for the girls and literally had a hand in raising them for most of their lives.

After the nine high school seniors and two juniors of Troop 1077 walked up to the make-do stage in front of their family members, a welcome speech was given by assistant leader Laurie Byer, the national anthem was sung by Maryanne Ross and the Girl Scout Promise and Law were recited by the girls.

Each girl then gave a speech about what Girl Scouting has meant to her, during which they all recounted funny memories, talked about what they had learned and thanked their leader for their love and dedication. A recurring theme in each of the speeches was some aspect of sisterhood.

“I’ve been in Girl Scouts for 13 years and throughout those 13 years I not only learned how to sell an overpriced box of cookies or how to change a tire, but the importance of sisterhood,” DJ’s daughter Cassidy said. “As our troop shrunk from 24 to 11, my mom has made it her mission to keep us all together and provide us with memories, life lessons and opportunities.”

Following the speeches, a commencement speech was given by transformation leader and coach Stacey Cargnelutti. She talked about the obstacles that all adults must overcome in life and praised DJ for preparing the girls to be ready to tackle them.

More than anything, she said she hopes her girls have learned “to serve God, their country, family and self through service, and that they are powerful and capable of anything as long as they believe it.”

During her speech, as she reminisced about the experiences that she had with her girls, DJ was brought to tears. “I have seen your best and worst moments,” she said. “I know your strengths and weaknesses. I know what you are capable of and what you prefer not to do. Despite this, I love you all!”

“The most memorable part of the ceremony was hearing all of the people I cherish deeply speak,” Ariana Shah, a graduate, said. “The extensive volunteer work we’ve done in Girl Scouts has prepared me in terms of leadership skills, communication skills, planning and so much more.”

Representatives from the Girl Scout Council, Adele Pacheco and Laurie Brown, who have overseen and approved Troop 1077’s activities, spoke about the service the girls have performed. Over the years, they have volunteered their time to causes such as Operation Christmas Child and HOPE and have helped during Canyon Lake events.

“You define volunteerism,” Adele said. “Mrs. Potter says that each girl has served between 200 and 500 hours each over the years.” After addressing everyone, the two council members presented each girl in the troop the remaining patches each of them had earned. The graduating seniors were also given a chord (which is typically worn at graduation) for graduating as a Girl Scout.

Five of the girls were recognized for beginning their Gold Award Projects, the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive, which they will complete by December. Then the seniors symbolically crossed a bridge and hung up their vests to symbolize their transition to adulthood.

“I didn’t want my seniors to miss out on the usual celebrations or for their years of service to go unnoticed,” DJ said. “This graduation and sendoff allowed us to celebrate them. I loved hearing their perspectives on what Girl Scouts has meant to them.”

As the ceremony came to a close, DJ announced that the girls of Troop 1077 would not be ending their sisterhood despite the fact that their time as Girl Scouts had concluded. She inducted all 11 of them into a sorority so that they can stay together and continue to serve others, she said. “I’m thankful for the Girl Scout organization for empowering young women, my mother’s hard work and encouragement, and especially these 11 girls for doing it all by my side,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy Potter

Stephanie Maxwell

Ariana Shah

Brianna Martilla

Amanda Martilla

Samii Ledezma

Tavia Fontenot

Teah Aston

Allison Byer