Why I Guide? Having Fun.

Alison Hathaway
Guide Guider / Area International Adviser
Involved in Guiding since she was a Brownie in the UK

“When I came to Canada 12 and a half years ago, I wanted to join Guiding to meet people. I keep being involved because I like to see a girl progress over the 3 years from that little timid mouse to a girl who leaves confident, empowered, and wanting to move forward―it’s that change in the girls that keeps me going. Girl Guides gives the opportunity for girls to be girls. We can be silly. We don’t have to show off to the boys. I just want girls to be silly, to have fun and to be confident. I mean, you know me―I’m crazy in Girl Guides! But it’s because I want the girls to know you can let go, and it’s okay to let go. I express myself so my girls can see that they can too. I just feel that the girls need to express themselves and learn to cope with their feelings. They need to have fun. They need to try things that they wouldn’t do otherwise. The other thing is I have had a health issue for the last three years, and I didn’t give up Guiding. I could have given up Guiding, but I didn’t give it up. I felt it was important personally to carry on and that’s because the girls have got to know just don’t give up. Just carry on doing what you love and work around what the issues are. To other people out there, don’t feel that you’re going to be excluded as a leader because you have issues. Do it! Try it! What do you have to lose? You can always try it, and if it’s not for you then you can always stop doing it. But it’s infectious and once you start you can’t stop. Guiding has helped me because I have a purpose. It’s been so much a part of my life, what would I do without it? Also, just be honest about what you can give. You might just want to go camping, then just do that. Maybe you are good at crafts, then help out a unit by doing the crafts. You don’t want to do it every week, then go every other week. A lot of Units would be eager to have you help by doing what you can, or by being there every other week.”