Juliette Gordon Low

Though she never had any children of her own, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, started the first Girl Scouts' troop in America in Savannah, Georgia, 1912. To me, a hero has to have bravery, compassion, and responsibility; these are all traits Daisy had. She is my hero.

My hero's life and impact started out in Savannah, Georgia, where she was born on October 31, 1860. Her name was Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon. But later, affectionately was known as "Daisy" by her family and friends. As a child, Daisy had problems with her hearing, but this didn't set her adventurous and caring spirit back; her interests as a child later became incorporated into Girl Scout activities. Later, Daisy got married to a man named William Mackay Low, in 1886. During the ceremony there was a mishap that caused her to become deaf in one ear and permanently damaged in the other, but still Daisy's high spirits were never lost. Daisy and William lived in both Georgia and England. While in England, in 1912, Daisy met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts, who inspired her to establish Girl Scouts that same year.

Daisy had to have bravery to start her troop. Bravery: for a person to be brave or have/do an act of courage. When someone is brave, they would do things like go out of their comfort-zone to do something nice/caring for someone else or even for themselves, which would usually be out of the ordinary. In the Girl Scout law, the girls promised to do their best to be "courageous and strong", that means doing stuff that might be difficult but for something/someone they believed in. During Daisy's time, women didn't do many things at a young age outside of the home and school, but Daisy wanted to help girls be active and learn more about their world, themselves, and how to do things in life. So, she did something out of the normal, and gathered a group of eighteen completely diverse girls, breaking conventions of the time. Also, while working for and with the girls, her disabilities did not set her back, she continued on and pushed through to help and support the girls through their work and activities.

Compassionate: for someone to feel sympathy or concern for others. When someone is compassionate about something they do anything that they can to help/benefit it. In the girl scout law, girls, also, promise to be "considerate and caring", meaning they care for others and what they believe in. Daisy cared very much about girls and was concern for their futures, but didn't know how to do anything to help them, until she met Mr. Baden-Powell. They discussed how girls wanted to join Scouts, which at the time was only for boys. The girls being passionate about their desire to do scouting, would sneak into Boy Scout rallies, which was a problem. So, Daisy, with concern for the girls and wanting to help, developed the first girl scouting troop in America. Daisy, herself, led her troop until her passing, but before her time she set up the girls to be successful in the future and know how to continue on without her leadership. She taught the girls how to sell things, which were mostly cookies, and how to have leadership and courage; these things benefited them, then and later.

Responsibility: for someone to have control over what the say and do, and to be dutiful for what they have done. When someone is responsible, they take blame for what they have done, or they are dutiful to what they have promised. In the Girl Scout law, once more, girls promise to be "responsible for what I say and do", meaning that the girls are dutiful for their actions and words, good or bad. Daisy was responsible for her troop, being the first and only at the time. Though this was a challenge, Daisy stuck with her girls, through every badge they wanted to create and/or learn about, even if it was viewed as not lady-like for the time. But she knew that the girls would have to be responsible for themselves, too, one day. So, she taught the girls to be responsible for their words, actions, and promises. As girl scouts, they all promised to do uphold the characteristics and duties of the Girl Scout law. Daisy's girls were responsible for the future of girl scouting, so she taught them how to self-lead their troop; hoping that they would be responsible for making their own, continuing Daisy's duties, which some did.